Abu Sayyaf release Australian hostage Warren Rodwell

An Australian man kidnapped 15 months ago by an al-Qaeda-linked group in the Philippines has been released. An emaciated-looking Warren Rodwell was freed on Saturday near Pagadian city in the southern Philippines, police said. He was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in 2011, and had last been shown alive in a video posted on social media websites in December. Abu Sayyaf is considered the smallest and most radical of the extremist movements in the southern Philippines. Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr welcomed the news, saying the release had been the result of a joint effort by authorities in both countries. "The Philippines government had the lead role in this case and deserve congratulations for their tireless efforts on Mr Rodwell's behalf," said Mr Carr. He added that Mr Rodwell was being moved to a safe location and that the focus now was on his recovery. bbc