<p>Abu Sayyaf militants from the Philippines seized five Indonesian fishermen from a vessel off eastern Borneo, Jakarta officials said Tuesday, the latest in a series of abductions in the area.</p>.<p>Indonesia's foreign ministry said it was working closely with Malaysian and Philippines authorities to rescue the crew, while urging other fishermen to avoid the area.</p>.<p>Eight crew members were aboard the vessel when it was boarded by the militants -- who have distant links to the Islamic State organisation -- but three were allowed to go free.</p>.<p>Abu Sayyaf is a group of self-proclaimed Islamic militants based in the southern Philippines who have engaged in bombings as well as kidnappings of Western tourists and missionaries for ransom since the early 1990s.</p>.<p>In recent years the group has also preyed on cargo ships, tugboats and fishing vessels in poorly policed waters of the region near the sea borders with Malaysia and Indonesia.</p>.<p>burs-dsa/fox</p>
<p>Abu Sayyaf militants from the Philippines seized five Indonesian fishermen from a vessel off eastern Borneo, Jakarta officials said Tuesday, the latest in a series of abductions in the area.</p>.<p>Indonesia's foreign ministry said it was working closely with Malaysian and Philippines authorities to rescue the crew, while urging other fishermen to avoid the area.</p>.<p>Eight crew members were aboard the vessel when it was boarded by the militants -- who have distant links to the Islamic State organisation -- but three were allowed to go free.</p>.<p>Abu Sayyaf is a group of self-proclaimed Islamic militants based in the southern Philippines who have engaged in bombings as well as kidnappings of Western tourists and missionaries for ransom since the early 1990s.</p>.<p>In recent years the group has also preyed on cargo ships, tugboats and fishing vessels in poorly policed waters of the region near the sea borders with Malaysia and Indonesia.</p>.<p>burs-dsa/fox</p>