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Malaysia condemns execution of Canadian hostage by Philippine militants

Xinhua, June 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Malaysia on Tuesday condemns the execution of a Canadian hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group in southern Philippines, urging Manila to bring the culprits to justice.

"Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms the execution of a Canadian national, Robert Hall, in southern Philippines," Malaysia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The government of Malaysia calls upon the government of the Philippines to intensify efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, and continue to work with relevant authorities to stop the killing of innocent lives once and for all," it said.

"This merciless act of brutality should not and will not be tolerated by any nation," it added.

Hall was executed on Monday after the deadline set by the kidnappers to pay ransom expired. Another Canadian was beheaded in April. Four Malaysian sailors were released by the Abu Sayyaf group earlier this month.

The 400-strong Abu Sayyaf, founded in the early 1990s by Islamic extremists, is a violent terrorist group operating in southern Philippines. The group is notorious for a series of kidnappings, bombings and beheadings over the decades, both in the Philippines and across the border in Malaysia. Enditem