JAKARTA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian armed forces (TNI) has set up a special squad on standby to assist the release of Indonesians being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines.
The special squad comprises personnel from the army, the navy and the air force, military spokesman Tatang Sulaiman said here Friday.
"The military commander has prepared a squad. It will be ready to take action whenever it is needed. The TNI is always ready," the spokesman said.
Tatang said that the deployment will be done once there is coordination and an agreement between the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines.
The Indonesian military has been allowed to enter the Philippines' territory for the hostage release, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizar Ryacude said after his meeting with his Filipino counterpart Voiltaire T.Gasmin in Mannila in June.
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