by Mynardo Macaraig
MANILA - A bloody revolt at a maximum security prison, which has claimed six lives, dragged on late Monday after Al-Qaeda linked militants reneged on a promise and refused to hand over their weapons, negotiators said.
Exasperated government negotiators, who earlier signed an agreement not to harm the prisoners, said they were calling off talks for the night and would return Tuesday morning.
Negotiators led by Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes and Manila police chief Avelino Razon then left the prison, which was bathed in floodlights in the early evening, after failing to end the 13-hour crisis.
"They changed their minds," Razon told reporters.
"It`s not yet finished," echoed Reyes.
Muslim legislator and government negotiator Mujib Hataman, said the decision not to resume talks would remain until a clear committment was made by the prisoners to turn-in their guns.
At least 10 Abu Sayyaf detainees overpowered their guards during a routine headcount and took control of the second floor in the four-storey building.
The jail houses 435 prisoners, including 129 Abu Sayyaf suspects and 10 members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Heavily armed and special forces units remained on standby outside.
Police said three guards and two Abu Sayyaf inmates were killed, though other official sources put the death toll at six.
Razon said the guards were shot and stabbed, apparently with the officers` own firearms. He said the knives could have been smuggled in by visitors.
Under the earlier agreement, prisoners were to step out of the building in groups of 10, then surrender the weapons seized.
In exchange, the inmates would not be harmed and be guaranteed a speedy trial, access to their own lawyers and the media to air their demands.
However, hours after the deadline the prisoners had not emerged.
Hataman said the inmates had changed their minds several times, first asking for time to pray and then demanding food.
Authorities told them they would not receive food unless they surrendered their weapons, national police spokesman Leopoldo Bataoil said.
Outside the prison, a small group of Muslim activists held a candlelight demonstration, brandishing placards saying, "don`t shoot our relatives" and "let the negotiations continue."
The standoff was seen by some observers as a propaganda victory for the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines.
President Gloria Arroyo, a key supporter of US President George W. Bush`s global war on terrorism, has previously stressed she would never negotiate with the group, which is branded a "foreign terrorist organization" by the US.
It was unclear how many prisoners were taking part in the revolt.
However, state prosecutors insisted the violence was part of an escape attempt hatched by Abu Sayyaf.
"We warned them (the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), about three weeks ago and as late as last week, of the planned escape try. Apparently our warnings were ignored," state prosecutor Peter Medalle told reporters.
State prosecutor Leo Dacera said authorities had intercepted a phone conversation between Alhamser Limbong, alleged leader of the revolt, and Abu Sayyaf leader Jainal Sali, who remains at large.
Limbong had "requested that eight safehouses be prepared".
The jail holds many of the top Abu Sayyaf leaders, including suspects in the 2000 bombing of a Manila overhead rail system that killed more than 20.
Abu Sayyaf were also blamed for bombing a Manila ferry last year that left more than 100 people dead, Bataoil said.
He said the gunmen were believed to be led by Limbong and Tahir Abdul Gafar, both on trial for kidnapping a group of tourists including three Americans in the western Philippines in 2001.
Several of the captives, including two Americans, were killed.
Limbong is also a suspect in the Manila ferry bombing. Among the prison`s other Abu Sayyaf inmates are senior leaders Galib Andang and Najdmi Sabdula.
Both are defendants in the kidnappings of 21 Western tourists and staff from the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan in 2000. The group was ransomed off for "several million dollars".
About 11 months ago eight escapees were killed after at least 53 prisoners, including about 20 Abu Sayyaf suspects, broke out of jail on the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan island in the south.

03/14/2005 15:47 GMT