U.S. forces chief meets RP generals

U.S. forces chief meets RP generals

PHILIPPINES: The head of U.S. forces in the Pacific flew to the
embattled region of Mindanao on Wednesday as Washington ponders a
military aid package to help the Philippines battle extremist
Moro rebels.

Admiral Dennis Blair, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific
Command, met in the southern city of Zamboanga with Philippine
Chief of Staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and other generals
leading 7,000 soldiers pursuing the Abu Sayyaf group on Basilan
island, about 20 kilometers away.

Since the May 27 abduction of three U.S. citizens and 17
Filipinos from a beach resort, the soldiers have been ferreting
out hide-outs of the Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to Saudi-
born Osama bin Laden, the accused mastermind of Sept. 11 attacks
in the United States.

A handful of plainclothes U.S. security staff with submachine
guns joined armored personnel carriers, soldiers and police
securing Zamboanga for Blair's arrival. --AP