http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050208/ap_on_re_as/philippines_fighting
Philippine Troops, Muslim Disciples Clash Tue Feb 8, 5:42 PM ET By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of marines sailed Tuesday to reinforce troops in the southern Philippines following fighting with followers of a jailed Muslim leader that killed at least 17 soldiers and as many as 30 rebels, officials said. Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the military's Southern Command, said air force helicopters and planes also were sent to bombard gunmen holed up in Panamao on Jolo island. He said up to 600 marines were heading to Jolo from southern Zamboanga city. "They have asked for it and we'll give it to them," Braganza said. The clashes erupted Monday when 500 fighters loyal to jailed leader Nur Misuari attacked government troops following an assault on their stronghold near Panamao, where guerrillas of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf movement had allegedly sought refuge, the military said. Misuari's followers said two children and their parents were killed in the military raid. About 300 gunmen encircled a group of soldiers in Panamao's Siit village and entered a nearby hospital, which was later retaken by troops, military officials said. Thirteen marines were killed and 14 were wounded in an ambush of a reinforcement contingent in Patikul, near Panamao, the military said. Four others were killed in other attacks. Jolo Gov. Ben Loong said he was flying from Manila to his province, about 600 miles south of the capital, in hopes of negotiating an end to the fighting. Abu Sulaiman, an Abu Sayyaf leader on a U.S. list of wanted terrorists, told radio station DZBB on Tuesday that his group was supporting the attacks on Jolo and urged other Muslim guerrillas in the impoverished south to continue a separatist war and not negotiate with the government. "Continue the struggle until we attain either of the two � victory or martyrdom," he said. The fighting on Jolo has been intense in recent months, reflecting the unsettled situation in the Philippines' south, which is home to a decades-long separatist insurgency by at least two groups from the country's Muslim minority. U.S.-backed military offensives in recent years have whittled down the strength of Abu Sayyaf, leaving them largely on the run on Jolo and nearby provinces. A larger group once headed by Misuari, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, had accepted limited autonomy and signed a peace deal in 1996. But violence flared again, and Misuari was imprisoned on charges of rebellion, leading to more unrest from his supporters. Many of his followers maintain strongholds on Jolo and have been accused of supporting the Abu Sayyaf. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Take a look at donorschoose.org, an excellent charitable web site for anyone who cares about public education! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_OLuKD/8WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
