A Filipino held hostage in Iraq told his family in a videotaped message aired on Thursday he would be home soon, but the militants holding him said he would be freed only after Manila withdrew its troops from Iraq.
However, the Philippine military was still awaiting orders to leave, a day after the government said it would pull its troops out of Iraq to save Angelo de la Cruz despite pressure from the United States for its Asian ally not to cave in to the demands.
A message recorded by the kidnappers appeared to extend a previous deadline beyond July 20 but said Angelo de la Cruz would not be handed over until all Philippine troops had left Iraq.
"The hostage will be released after the withdrawal of the last Filipino soldier from Iraq within a period that does not exceed the current month," the statement by the Islamic Army said.
Addressing his family, de la Cruz said: "Wait for me, I'm coming back to you," Arabic television channel Al Jazeera said in its translation of his remarks.
The hostage appeared in good health and wore civilian clothes, unlike in previous tapes in which he wore an orange jump-suit, typical of US jails and associated around the world with images of Muslims detained at Guantanamo Bay.
Al Jazeera quoted de la Cruz as sending a message of thanks to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her decision to withdraw her forces and urging her to stick to it.
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