Manila- Three staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross kidnapped nearly two weeks ago in the southern Philippines have resumed contact with their colleagues and said they are in good health, a senior Red Cross official said Tuesday.

Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba called up their colleagues by telephone over the weekend after five days incommunicado, said Alain Aeschlimann, head of the committee's operations for the Asia Pacific in Geneva.

"They say that considering the circumstances, they are doing alright," Aeschlimann said. "Their voices sounded composed and calm, and we hope that this is a positive sign."

He said the Red Cross is calling for the rapid and unconditional release of the trio, who were seized by Abu Sayyaf rebels January
15 on Jolo Island, 1,500 kilometres south of Manila.

Police said gunmen led by a sacked jail guard seized the three Red Cross workers and turned them over to al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels in the jungles of Indanan town.

According to military intelligence sources, Abu Sayyaf commanders Albader Parad and Akmad Jumdail were leading a group of about 30 men in holding the hostages.

The sources added the kidnappers were planning to seek 5 million dollars in ransom and unknown political demands for their safe release.

Authorities declined to confirm the reports. The Red Cross said it has not received a ransom demand.

The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines. It is also notorious for high-profile kidnapping cases, including the abduction of 21 European tourists and Asian workers from a Malaysian resort island in 2000. The hostages were ransomed for millions of dollars before they were freed months later. (dpa)