Philippines hostages freed

PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIALTHAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3

Civilian hostages caught in the fighting between rogue Muslim rebels and Philippine forces are finally reunited with their families.

They were freed on Tuesday as the army moved into Zamboanga City in the south.

Some say they're too frightened to return to their homes.

(SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) HOSTAGE LOLITA DIMAPELES SAYING:

"We will rent a room somewhere because we do not want to return since we have been traumatized. We want to forget everything that has happened to us."

The army says the rebels are fleeing to outlying islands as security forces advance.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES SPOKESPERSON BRIGADIER-GENERAL DOMINGO TUTAAN SAYING:

"We're hoping on the thing that hostages have been rescued or recovered, and the situation is getting better and hopefully we will be able to have this concluded at the soonest possible time."

The rebels are being for