Philippine gunmen free US hostage

Kidnappers in the southern Philippines have freed an American woman after more than two months in captivity, but held on to her son and nephew, according to an official. Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann was freed Sunday night on Basilan island, but her 14-year-old son Kevin and her Filipino teenage nephew remain in captivity, said Celso Lobregat, mayor of Zamboanga city. The three were kidnapped on July 12 on a resort island off Zamboanga city, which is also near Basilan, a stronghold for a range of Islamic militant groups, including the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf organisation. No-one has officially claimed responsibility for the incident although Islamic militants are suspected.