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.