-Caveat Lector- http://sg.news.yahoo.com/020529/1/2qbcb.html
Wednesday May 29, 1:57 PM US military helicopters clash with Abu Sayyaf rebels in Philippines Two US Pave Hawk helicopters exchanged fire with a band of suspected Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerrillas in the southern Philippine island of Basilan, local military officials said. There were no reports of any casualties on the side of the American soldiers who were flying supplies into Basilan when the incident occurred late Monday, local military commander Colonel Alexander Aleo said. It was the first incident of direct combat between the US troops in Basilan and suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim armed group believed linked to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden, suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks in the United States. Military reports said about 10 gunmen believed to be Abu Sayyaf members opened fire on the HH-60 helicopters as they were flying over the town of Tuburan, prompting the US troops aboard to return fire with the helicopters' machineguns. The attackers scampered away after the helicopters shot back. Immediately afterwards, Philippine soldiers on the ground were sent in pursuit of the gunmen but it was not clear if they caught up with them, the military report said. This was the first incident of direct combat between the US troops in Basilan and suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim armed group believed linked to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden, suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks in the United States. The Abu Sayyaf, notorious for kidnappings, bombings and banditry, are still holding an American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, and a Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap, hostage in Basilan. About a thousand US troops have been deployed in the southern Philippines to help local soldiers in their hunt for the Abu Sayyaf but the US role is limited to training, support and providing advice and assessment. The Americans, whose deployement is scheduled to end in July, are not allowed to engage in combat unless fired upon. Outgoing mail is certified virus free Scanned by Norton AntiVirus <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
