U.S. to help RP tackle bin Laden-linked group<\/p>\n
Reuters, Manila<\/p>\n
The United States will send military officers to the Philippines
\nthis month to help crack down on Muslim guerrillas linked to
\nOsama bin Laden, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said on Friday.<\/p>\n
The self-styled Abu Sayyaf rebels, who Washington has said are
\nlinked to bin Laden's Al Qaeda network, executed an American
\ntourist they kidnapped in May and are holding a U.S. couple
\nseized in the same raid on a southern tourist resort.<\/p>\n
The U.S. team of 15 or 16 officials, including military
\nofficers, would be in the Philippines by the end of the month,
\nReyes told foreign correspondents.<\/p>\n
They would provide advice on combating the Abu Sayyaf and the
\ntwo sides would also discuss coordination and cooperation in the
\nglobal fight against terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"This (team) would contain people that could cooperate,
\ncoordinate with us on the military side of it, on how to handle
\nthe legal activity, perhaps, the financial aspect...the
\ninformation sharing,\" Reyes said.<\/p>\n
The predominantly Catholic Philippines was a U.S. colony and
\nthe two countries have enjoyed close relations for decades.<\/p>\n
The U.S. team was expected to visit Basilan, a remote
\nPhilippine island 900 km south of Manila, where the Abu Sayyaf
\nhave been holding American and Filipino hostages for months.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Embassy in Manila said on Friday remains found on a
\nsouthern Philippine island last week were those of a Californian
\ntourist killed by the rebels in June.<\/p>\n
A Filipino hostage who escaped from the guerrillas said two
\nother Americans, missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham,
\nkidnapped along with Guillermo Sobero, were still alive.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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