TALIPAO, Philippines -- Muslim extremists Tuesday threatened to behead two of their 21 hostages in a mountain hide-out unless the military withdraws troops encircling the area.

Later in the day, about 100 Abu Sayyaf rebels tried to break through the military cordon and clashed with troops, leaving at least one soldier dead and five injured, military officials said. There was no immediate word of casualties among the rebels, who apparently retreated.In announcing the rebel threat, Abu Escobar said the troops were so close that the kidnappers could see them.

If the government does not pull back the soldiers, "we will surprise them," he told local radio station DXRZ. "Maybe two heads for tomorrow."

The rebels kidnapped the hostages, including 10 foreign tourists, April 23, from a Malaysian diving resort. The extremists brought them to Jolo Island in the Philippines, about one hour away by boat.

Other Abu Sayyaf rebels holding a separate group of 27 hostages on neighboring Basilan Island claimed two weeks ago to have beheaded two of their 27 Filipino captives. That triggered a military assault that so far has failed to find the hostages.

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Nur Misuari, the government's negotiator, said the military told him Tuesday that the encirclement in Jolo would stay "as is." He said the rebels have refused to begin formal negotiations if the troops are not removed.

His remarks came after the hostages appealed to the Philippine government to pull back the troops.

Stephane Loisy, a hostage from France, told journalists, "We eat only rice, and the only water we have is the water from rain."

The 10 foreign hostages being held in a bamboo hut wrote letters to their embassies asking officials to pressure the Philippine government to speed up negotiations and stop military operations.

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