JOLO, Philippines. May 4: Two white men among’ 21 mostly foreign hostages held by Philippine Muslim rebels escaped from their captors, local radio reported today, reports Reuters.

Defence Secretary' Orlando Mercado told Reuters he could not immediately confirm the report on DZMM radio, which said the two hostages escaped on Wednesday before noon and guerrillas searching for the pair clashed with troops.

DZMM said it received word of the escape from "informants" but did not elaborate.

The identity of the hostages and their present whereabouts were not known.

The 21 hostages, brought to Jolo Island after they were kidnapped on Easter Sunday from a Malaysia resort by Abu Sayyaf guerillas, were 10 Malaysians, three Germans, two French nationals, two South Africans, two Finns, one Lebanese and a Filipina.

Military officers near the hostage site on Jolo island in

the southern Philippines said troops returned guerilla fire during the night, and one officer said the rebels moved their captives to another hideout to escape the shooting. They had no information on any escape.

A Reuters photographer in the area said troops fired mortars every 30 minutes throughout the night but a senior military officer said there was no danger to the hostages.

"We controlled our firing so that we won't hit the house where the hostages are." said a frontline colonel.

DZMM station is run by ABS-CBN TV network, which reported on Wednesday that two foreign hostages were dead. The government said however all 21 hostages were alive and its chief negotiator later said at least two hostages were wounded in clashes.

Jolo. 960 km (600 miles) south of Manila, is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf one of two groups fighting for an Islamic state in the mostly Catholic

country. |

In a separate hostage drama on nearby Basilan, Philippine troops stepped up their search for about 10 Filipino hostages, including children, after Abu Sayyaf rebels holding a group o 27 for the past 45 days killed four of their captives a day earlier. !

"About 10 are still unaccounted for ... they were spli into two groups." Genera Diomedio Villanueva, commanding officer for the south ern military command, said oq local radio.

"As of now there Is no fight ing. they're (troops) just search ing the environment." Vil-i lanueva said.

Villanueva said a priest anc three other Filipino hostages were killed and five, including children, were wounded or Wednesday when Philippine troops surprised the rebels.

Ten Filipino hostages, including seven children, frorr out of a group of at least 27. wen rescued unhurt.