SRINAGAR. India Sept 8: Al—Faran guerillas threatened today to kill four Western boslages In Kashmir unless i Ite Indian government released an undisclosed number of Jailed separatist militants by Saturday evening, reports Reuter

"Al-Faran has issued a statement warning the government to announce the release of the people demanded by Saturday evening." the militant group said in a statement. "Otherwise the tourists will be killed."

The statement, delivered to local newspapers in Srinagar said that if the tourists were killed, the Indian government would be solely responsible due to its "unyielding and Irresponsible" attitude.

Al-Faran said it had no contact at present with either the government or Western diplomats from the three countries whose nationals were held hostage. But the statement said. "If the government agrees to our

demands, there can be talks over the exchange of prison-

American Donald Hutchings. German Dirk Hasert and Britons Keith Mangan and Paul Wells were kidna pped In southern Kashmir in early July. A fifth hostage. Norwegian Hans Christian Ost roe was found beheaded on August 13.

Al-Faran had previously demanded the release of 15 jailed militants including three Pakistanis In exchange for the hostages. Its latest statement did not say how many It wanted freed.

Meanwhile, a parcel bomb exploded in the British Broa dcastlng Corporation's office in Srinagar on Thursday. Injuring three journalists, one critically.

Mushtaq All. a photographer for the French news agency Agence France Presse and cameraman for India's Aslan News International, suffered extensive injuries to his head, chest and hands when he opened the package. Hospital officials said he was in critical condition and on a respirator.

Yusuf Jameel, who reports from Kashmir for the BBC and Reuters. was slightly injured In the blast as was photographer Habibullah Naqash who works for United News of India and the Asian Age newspaper.

The blast came two weeks after a Pakistani Islamic militant group attacked the BBC's office in Islamabad. Iteatlng two correspondents, smashing equipment and setting carpets and household Items on fire.