Three Indonesians kidnapped in Malaysia

At least three Indonesians have been kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants on Malayasia's eastern coast of Sabah on Borneo island, officials said on Sunday.

They were sailing in a raft in waters near Lahad Dalu city when the incident occurred, Efe news quoted a police official as saying.

Lahad Dalu, which is located in the north-eastern part of Sabah, is about 100 km from the Philippines where Abu Sayyaf is active.

The group, which pledges allegiance to the Islamic State terror group, carries out kidnappings to finance its terror activities.

On June 20, the extremists abducted seven Indonesian sailors in the Sulu sea.

Between April and May this year, the jihadi group released 14 Indonesian fishermen and another four Malaysian hostages in exchange for $2 million and $3 million, respectively.

In the last two months Abu Sayyaf had beheaded two Canadian citizens, Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, after non-payment of ransom within the deadline set by them.

The militants also threatened to execute a Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was abducted alongside Ridsdel, Hall and the Filipina Marites Flor, and released last week.

The organisation was established in 1991 by veterans of the Afghanistan war against the former Soviet Union and have carried out some of the bloodiest attacks in recent years in the Philippines.

In addition to the Norwegian man, the group is also currently holding captive a Japanese and a Dutch citizen.

--IANS

ask/py/dg