From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Phillipines: 'Several hundred' US troops in Philippines war on terror - Ananova Ananova : 'Several hundred' US troops in Philippines war on terror ====================================== The US has sent 'several hundred' troops to the Philippines as part of the war on terrorism. They are there to support the efforts of local forces fighting Abu Sayyaf - an extremist group with links to al-Qaida. Philippine officials say the American contingent would total about 600, including 160 special forces. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said: "The Philippine government and the United States have had discussions about the terrorist problem that exists there, and as we have done with dozens of countries around the world we're providing the kinds of assistance that we can." At an army camp in the southern city of Zamboanga, workers were rushing to complete training and billeting facilities for the US troops. The Abu Sayyaf is holding American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipina nurse Deborah Yap after abducting them and others in a kidnapping spree that began in May. Several hostages, including Guillermo Sobero, a California resident, were killed in captivity. Others escaped or were freed for ransoms. The White House has reiterated that the US will not deploy US forces to Afghanistan for the British-led peacekeeping mission. A White House spokesman said: "The president's view is unchanged - that America's military forces should be used for fighting and winning a war. That is their mission in Afghanistan." The US and the Philippines are discussing whether to allow the rapid transfer of military supplies and spare parts for combat and noncombat missions. The accord would allow the military of one country to purchase supplies and spare parts from the military of the other in transactions that would help boost local business. Story filed: 15:44 Wednesday 16th January 2002 _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
