FBI chief arrives in Manila

FBI chief arrives in Manila

PHILIPPINES: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director
Robert Mueller arrived in the Philippines on Sunday for talks
with President Gloria Arroyo on the U.S.-led international
antiterrorism campaign.

Mueller flew in from Bangkok on the fifth leg of a tour
through Southeast Asia that has also taken him to Kuala Lumpur,
Singapore and Jakarta.

U.S. Embassy officials here declined to discuss his itinerary,
but Arroyo aides said the president would receive Mueller at
Malacanang Palace on Monday.

More than 600 U.S. troops are advising Filipino soldiers
hunting down the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in the southern island of
Basilan. Filipino officials said on Sunday that Washington wanted
to add an extra battalion -- between 800 and 1,000 soldiers -- to
conduct civic action projects on Basilan, where the guerrillas
are holding a U.S. Christian missionary couple hostage. --AFP