Fear of fighting raised in RP

Fear of fighting raised in RP

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): A military build-up near the main camp of a Moslem insurgent group in the southern Philippines has raised fears that an attack could be imminent, insurgents and local officials said yesterday.

The local military commander, Maj. Gen. Raul Urgello, said the move was partly a normal redeployment of forces and partly increased security following an apparent terrorist attack on the local army camp.

He refused to say how many troops had been deployed or if armored vehicles were involved.

Al Haj Murad, vice-chairman of the Moslem insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said 20 armored personnel carriers and 30 truckloads of soldiers had arrived in towns near the MILF's Camp Abubakar in the province of Maguindanao.

Murad said this was part of a plan to attack the MILF camp. He said he was calling an emergency meeting of government and MILF panels that have been discussing a cease-fire.