The Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebel group has said that more US and European hostages will be taken unless Western troops and businesses withdraw from the Middle East and end support for Israel, according to the BBC Online.
This is the first time the Abu Sayyaf, who are fighting for an independent Muslim state in the Philippines, have made such demands.
The group has been holding 23 hostages, including three Americans, one of whom has reportedly been killed.
Two Filipinos were released Tuesday , said the news service, adding that they were flown to Manila after being found by the army in Lamitan town on the island of Basilan late on Monday.
The BBC said that a ransom of six million pesos ($113,000) was paid for the release of the two, although the government has ruled out such payments.
An army mission has so far failed to find the rest of the hostages.
There had been reports that the families were secretly trying to negotiate deals, after the army failed to free the hostages despite a massive campaign, said AFP.
The two were among 17 Filipinos who were seized, along with the three Americans, from the smart resort of Dos Palmas off the western island of Palawan on May 27.
Of the original 20 hostages, 11 were later freed, but more were captured during a raid on a local hospital and school in Lamitan.
Two Filipino men were later killed.
Thousands of troops are still combing the mountains and jungles of Basilan in an effort to rescue the remaining captives, the agency said - Albawaba.com
