Filipino refugees to be put in camp

Filipino refugees to be put in camp

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Filipinos fleeing to Malaysia to escape a military attack on extremist rebels will be treated as war refugees and placed in a camp, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said here on Thursday.

Mahathir, speaking to reporters after opening a media conference, added that the Filipino refugees would not be allowed out of the camp unless they were willing to be deported.

Philippine security forces last weekend launched a major offensive against Abu Sayyaf Islamic gunmen holding 19 hostages on the southern island of Jolo, near Malaysia's eastern Sabah state.

Bernama quoted Defense Minister Najib Razak as saying on Thursday that security troops have been directed to foil any attempt by Filipino refugees trying to land on Sabah shores.