Philippine troops claim capture of MILF camp

Philippine troops claim capture of MILF camp

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Government troops have captured a
major rebel camp in the southern Philippine province of
Maguindanao after intense fighting, the military said here on
Sunday.

The Philippine flag was hoisted inside the abandoned Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Camp Mohamad al Sateh after
troops poured in Saturday afternoon, said local army spokesman
Major Julieto Ando.

Fighting triggered by an MILF attack on army troops began
early Saturday and raged for several hours until government
artillery fire and air strikes forced the rebels to flee the
camp, Ando said.

At least one rebel was killed in the fighting and one soldier
was slightly injured, the military said, adding that the
recovery of blood-stained fatigues meant more guerrillas could
have been either wounded or killed.

Troops discovered about 100 trenches in the heavily fortified
camp, as well as bunkers that could accommodate about 300 MILF
fighters, Ando said.

Camp Mohamad al Sateh is the fifth MILF camp captured by
troops in Maguindanao since a major offensive against the 15,000-
strong group was launched this year.

Four other major camps in two nearby provinces, including the
MILF's training and weapons manufacturing base, have also been
captured.

Ando said the military was under instruction to continue its
offensive against other MILF territories in the south even as
peace negotiations continue.

The military earlier said it was prepared to strike Camp
Abubakar, the MILF's main base in southern Mindanao island, if
given the green light by Manila.

"We will continue with the offensive as directed to liberate
MILF camps outside Camp Abubakar," Ando said.

In Manila, President Joseph Estrada on Saturday warned the
MILF that government forces would crush the rebellion if they
continued to resist.

Estrada said the government would not allow the rebels to
"gain time and opportunity to regroup, to consolidate and re-arm
so they can continue to wage war."

While the government was committed to finding a peaceful
solution to the 22-year Moro insurgency, Estrada warned the
rebels that "if they want war, we will give them defeat."

The president earlier rejected a call from the Catholic-church
and former president Corazon Aquino for a 40-day cease-fire with
the MILF.

In another development in Jolo Island, chief Philippine
hostage negotiator Roberto Aventajado said on Sunday he was
willing to step down after rebels holding 21 mostly foreign
hostages on this southern island demanded his removal.

Aventajado and other members of the government negotiating
panel flew back to the capital, Manila, on Sunday without making
any clear headway into the hostage crisis, which has entered its
eighth week.

"We are currently analyzing the situation, but the important
thing with me is the safety and the lives of the 21 hostages and
(if) my being out of the picture would have the ability to save
the lives of the captives then I am willing to step down as head
of the government negotiating team," Aventajado said in a
telephone interview.

He said, however, that the "final decision is with the
president."

Aventajado's statement came after he flew in from Zamboanga
city, where he earlier had a brief meeting with other members of
the negotiating panel.

The meeting was prompted by the Abu Sayyaf's demand Saturday
for Aventajado to be replaced by Estrada's chief aide after
remarks that the government was not ruling out a military option
to solve the crisis.

Earlier Sunday, Sulu police chief Superintendent Candido
Casimiro said maritime police, the navy and the coastguard were
put on full alert to block any attempt by the Abu Sayyaf to move
the hostages to another island.

Intelligence reports indicated that all the hostages were
still in the jungle on Jolo, but could have been divided into two
groups in separate villages.