A group of six Indonesian and Filipino workers has been kidnapped by an armed gang from a Sabah resort on Borneo island, said the police today.

The workers, three men from each country, were seized late Sunday night in a raid on the Borneo Paradise Resort on the River Sabahan in Sabah and taken away by longboat, police chief Norian Mai told a news conference.

Some of the 10 kidnappers wore military fatigues and carried modern weapons, Norian said, but he ruled out speculation that the Philippine Muslim rebel group Abu Sayyaf was responsible.

Abu Sayyaf kidnapped 21 people, mostly Western tourists, from the Sipadan resort in Sabah in April 2000, holding them for nearly a year before releasing them, reportedly in exchange for millions of dollars in ransom.

Norian said the Abu Sayyaf had been ruled out because of the choice of target - workers rather than foreign tourists - and that locals seeking ransom were the main suspects.

Joint operations

However, he added that Indonesian and Philippine armed forces were cooperating in the hunt for the kidnappers.

"We are conducting joint operations with Indonesian and Philippine authorities. We cannot rule out the possibility of them hiding there.

"The Malaysian navy, airforce and military are combing the area. There is a lot of jungle and highlands where they can hide."

The resort, which opened six months ago, is some two kilometres from the coast and 38 kilometres from the nearest town, Kunak, Norian said.

It has just 15 rooms, catering mainly for local tourists, and campsites for parties of schoolchildren.

The kidnappers had not communicated with the authorities, he said.

Earlier reports had identified the kidnap victims as Malaysians, but Norian said there were no tourists at the resort at the time.

Manila checking

Meanwhile in Manila Filipino armed forces chief of staff General Narciso Abaya said the Philippines authorities are checking reports of the kidnapping.

Abaya said he had no immediate information on whether Abu Sayyaf guerrillas based in the southern Philippines were behind the lastest kidnap.

"I will have this report checked," he told AFP by telephone from Hawaii, where he is making an official visit.

"I will alert our forces in the area." - AFP