Four Moslem rebels killed in RP air raid<\/p>\n
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (Reuters): Four Moslem rebels were
\nkilled and six others wounded when Philippine warplanes bombed an
\nisland near the southern city of Zamboanga, the military said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The Thursday bombing of Sacol Island was part of a military
\nhunt for the remnants of fleeing bands of Moslem extremists who
\nraided the town of Ipil on April 4 and killed 53 largely unarmed
\ncivilians, marine colonel Ponciano Millena told Reuters.<\/p>\n
He said the bombing was necessary because ground troops found
\nit hard to pursue the rebels on the island covered mostly by
\nswamp.<\/p>\n
\"It is very difficult to operate in the swamps which has been
\nthe haven of criminals and lawless elements. You could easily get
\nstuck in the mud, making it hard for our men to go after the
\nenemy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The bombing, which occurred at 15-minute intervals, caused
\nsome panic among coastal residents as they felt the ground shake
\nduring each attack.<\/p>\n
About 40 more rebels are being pursued, including 15 who are
\nbelieved to have participated in the Ipil raid, Millena said.<\/p>\n
More than 200 heavily-armed guerrillas, linked to the Moslem
\nfundamentalist group Abu Sayyaf, caused widespread damage in
\nIpil, 790 km (490 miles) southwest of Manila.<\/p>\n
President Fidel Ramos ordered an all-out offensive against the
\nattackers and gave the military 60 days to round up the rebels.
\nThe rebels killed 20 of the hostages they had seized during their
\nflight, survivors said.<\/p>\n
The government said its troopers had killed 41 Ipil raiders.<\/p>\n
Military checkpoints have been installed in Zamboanga and
\nother major commercial centers on Mindanao Island to prevent a
\nrepeat of the raid.<\/p>\n
The rebel Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which has
\nentered into peace negotiations with government, has repeatedly
\ndenied any participation in the raid.<\/p>\n
MNLF chairman Nur Misuari, from his residence in the Middle
\nEast, said his group is committed to the peace process.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, police have arrested eight Moslems in a swoop on a
\nMoslem community on Thursday night for illegal possession of
\nfirearms. They will be questioned about their links with the Abu
\nSayyaf.<\/p>",
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