An Irish priest who was kidnapped in the southern Philippines earlier this week has been seen alive in an area known to be a stronghold of Muslim militants, a military official said.

Michael Sinnott, 79, and his kidnappers were seen in a coastal area of Lanao del Sur province about 44 miles (70km) southeast of where he was taken, Major-General Ben Dolorfino, the regional military chief, said.

"The victim and his kidnappers were sighted in Lanao del Sur," General Dolorfino told reporters, but he declined to give specific details so as not to jeopardise a rescue attempt.

He refused to elaborate when asked why troops were not sent in immediately to rescue Mr Sinnott, who was seized by six armed men from his home at the Missionary Society of St Columban compound in Pagadian City on Sunday.

General Dolorfino gave no details about Mr Sinnott's health, after the priest's colleagues said a heart problem meant he may not survive the ordeal.

"We cannot say anything about his condition but we know he recently underwent bypass surgery and considering that situation [we hope] his captors may not move him around to different places," he said.

Authorities have said that the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf or the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are suspects. Both groups, as well as other unnamed Muslim armed gangs, are known to operate in parts of Lanao.

The MILF and Abu Sayyaf are striving for an independent Muslim homeland in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines.

The MILF on Tuesday denied involvement and said that it was willing to help rescue Mr Sinnott.

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