Jan 19 - Three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross held captive in the Philippines called their office on Monday, saying their abductors want the military to suspend rescue operations, a local Red Cross official said.

The aid workers were kidnapped four days ago on the southern island of Jolo.

The identity of their abductors is unknown but police believe they are part of the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant group with ties to al Qaeda. Helen Long reports.

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