RP says U.S. has strong case against bin Laden

RP says U.S. has strong case against bin Laden

Agence France-Presse, Manila

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo believes United States
evidence apparently linking Osama bin Laden to last month's
terrorist atrocities is "convincing", her national security
adviser said on Thursday.

Roilo Golez said that U.S. charge d'affaires Robert Fitts
called on Arroyo late Wednesday and presented her with "a
detailed summary of evidence" against bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda
network.

The classified information was the same as presented to
Washington's NATO allies and listed past crimes blamed on the
Saudi militant living under Taliban shelter in Afghanistan, Golez
said in a statement.

"In particular, the information showed that some of the
terrorists involved in the air strikes also took part in past
terrorist attacks on U.S. targets that resulted in hundreds of
deaths to civilians, U.S. military personnel and nationals of the
host country," he said.

Bin Laden has been indicted in the United States for the 1998
bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa and is also blamed
for the bomb attack on the USS Cole destroyer at port in Aden,
southern Yemen.

"At the briefing, President Macapagal Arroyo stated that she
found the presentation very convincing and reiterated her support
to the U.S. and the international coalition against terrorism,"
Golez said.

The Philippines has agreed to open its airspace to U.S.
military aircraft as well as its international airports for re-
fueling and supply purposes.

Arroyo has also vowed to lead the creation of a regional anti-
terrorism coalition along with Malaysia and Indonesia. Manila is
battling Moro separatist rebellions in the southern Philippines.

Philippine officials are expected to formalize the proposal
for the anti-terrorism front at an annual summit of Southeast
Asian leaders in Brunei in November.