State of emergency declared on Island of Jolo

Government officials in the Philippines declared a state of emergency for the island of Jolo on 31 March 2009. The announcement comes as the deadline passed for the execution of three Red Cross workers being held captive on the island by the militant Abu Sayyaf group. The militants had warned that they would kill their Red Cross hostages if the government did not agree to their demands by 1400 local time. In response to the state of emergency situation, security forces on Jolo have imposed a night curfew and restricted access to sensitive areas near the rebel camps by blocking several rural highways. There have been no reports on the status of the three hostages.