Emergency declared in Philippines

A state of emergency has been imposed on a southern Philippine island where militants holding three aid workers have threatened to kill one of them.The declaration puts all security forces on alert on Jolo island and curtails the movement of people.The Abu Sayyaf rebels had threatened to behead one of the three Red Cross hostages by 1400 (0600 GMT) if security troops did not pull back.But there has so far been no word on the fate of the hostages.Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba were seized on 15 January, and have since been held in the jungles of Jolo.The three aid workers were abducted after a visit to a local prison, where the International Committee of the Red Cross is funding a water project.