ZAMBOANGA, Philippine - Two gunmen implicated in the kidnapping of 21 Western, Malaysian and Filipino hostages from resorts in Malaysia in 2000 have been arrested, the Philippine military said today.

The two men were arrested on Tuesday in an island off the coast of the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan island, south of this city, military spokesman Colonel Daniel Lucero said.

An informer led the military to the men whose identities are being withheld pending interrogation, the military said.

Hefty ransoms

The Abu Sayyaf are a Muslim rebel group blamed for kidnapping Christians and foreigners and holding them for ransom in the southern Philippines.

An Abu Sayyaf band was believed to have snatched the 21 hostages from Malaysian resorts in Sipadan in 2000 and held them in Jolo island, releasing most of them only after hefty ransom payments were made.

Many of the gunmen behind the abduction have since been arrested but the ringleaders remain at large.

The Abu Sayyaf have been linked by both Washington and Manila to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden. - AFP