Jakarta seeks help from Bali bomber on hostages

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Jakarta has sought the help of jailed Bali bomber Umar Patek to secure the safe release of 10 Indonesian sailors being held by the Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippines, reports said.

Patek, who previously trained Abu Sayyaf fighters and Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in bomb-making before he was arrested in Pakistan in January 2011, has been visited by Indonesian officials in his Sulawesi jail who sought his assistance to save the lives of the hostages, according to The Australian.