COTABATO, November 5, 2009 (AFP) - Philippine Muslim rebel leaders on Thursday refused a government demand to force one of their members accused of kidnapping an Irish priest to come out and personally deny the allegation.

Aloy Al Asree, a commander of more than 3,000 men in the troubled southern Philippines, would not want to turn himself into a target for authorities, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said.

"It's complicated. He might be arrested if he shows up at the (government) crisis management committee," MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said, referring to local officials seeking contact with the kidnappers.

 Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said this week that Al Asree, commander of an MILF unit called the 113th base command, was involved in the abduction of Sinnott, 79, from the southern city of Pagadian on October 11. Although the kidnappers have released a video in which Sinnott spoke, they have not revealed their identities.

The MILF has denied Al Asree or any other rebel leader was involved in the kidnapping, and warned such accusations could jeopardise efforts to resume peace talks with the government.

 However, in a telephone call from his hideout in the southern island of Mindanao where the MILF has been waging a decades-long separatist insurgency, Iqbal confirmed the 45-year-old Al Asree commanded over 3,000 followers.

Sinnott has a history of heart problems and his religious order, the Society of St. Columbans, has repeatedly expressed fears about the impact the ordeal would have on his health.

However church leaders and the government have said they would not pay any ransom.