U.S.-RP exercises end, more to come

U.S.-RP exercises end, more to come

PHILIPPINES: U.S.-Philippine military exercises in the volatile
south of the country ended on Wednesday, hailed by both sides as
a success despite failing to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas
linked to the al-Qaeda network.

Some 1,000 U.S. troops are heading home after the six-month
long exercises held mainly on the Muslim-dominated island of
Basilan -- a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas.

The United States has linked the Abu Sayyaf to Osama bin
Laden's al-Qaeda network, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11
attacks on Washington and New York.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, now on an eight-nation
Asian tour, is to visit the Philippines later in the week to
discuss further exercises, which are likely to begin in October.
--Reuters