Abu Sayyaf 'received funds from bin Laden'

Abu Sayyaf 'received funds from bin Laden'

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (Reuters): A captured Philippine Moro
rebel leader has named Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden,
linked by Washington to terror attacks on the United States, as a
financier of his group, the military said on Monday.

Jimmy Theng admitted to bin Laden's alleged tie-up with the
Abu Sayyaf group during interrogation after his capture on
Saturday on the southern island of Basilan, a military statement
said.

"Significantly, he revealed that the Abu Sayyaf Group is
receiving financial support from Osama bin Laden," it said. It
did not mention any amounts.

The Abu Sayyaf has been holding a U.S. missionary couple and
16 Filipinos hostage for months on Basilan.

Theng's statements to investigators confirmed long-standing
military suspicions about links between bin Laden and the
extremist group, armed forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan
told reporters.

"What we know is that in 1995 they (bin Laden's group) trained
people here in bombing and demolition, and some are now with the
Abu Sayyaf," Adan said.

He said one of the men sent by bin Laden to the Philippines
was a brother in-law married to a Filipina and who "established
religious NGOs and business networks in the country to
propagandize extremism and facilitate the flow of funds" to local
Moro rebels.

The brother-in-law has since left the Philippines.

U.S. President George W. Bush has named bin Laden as a prime
suspect in last week's suicide plane attacks which destroyed the
World Trade Center in New York and damaged the Pentagon in
Washington.

The military estimates the Abu Sayyaf strength at about 1,200.
They operate mainly on the largely islands of Basilan and Jolo,
near the main island of Mindanao, 800 km (500 miles) south of
Manila.