[Straits Times] THE Philippines imposed a curfew and a state of emergency on Tuesday on a remote southern island where an Islamic militant group has threatened to kill one of three Red Cross workers it holds hostage. Provincial Governor Abdusakur Tan issued the proclamation of emergency minutes after the expiry of a rebel ultimatum to authorities to withdraw troops from much of Jolo island. The Abu Sayyaf group had said it would execute one of the hostages if their demand was not met by 2 pm Singapore time.
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