Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Gunfire hits US military-chartered helicopter, wounding American on board, official says (7:34 p.m.)
MANILA -- Gunmen fired at a U.S. military-chartered helicopter delivering supplies to troops on a southern Philippine island where Muslim militants have a presence, slightly wounding an American civilian, an embassy official said Tuesday.
The helicopter carrying American civilians flew back to a Zamboanga city airfield without any difficulty after it was hit by small-arms fire Monday over nearby Basilan island, U.S. Embassy deputy Press Attache Karen Schinnerer said.
An American aboard was slightly injured by flying debris, Schinnerer told The Associated Press without elaborating.
Marine Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, a Filipino commander, said the helicopter had been on a routine logistical run and was flying back to Zamboanga city when it came briefly under fire near Tipo Tipo township in Basilan, about 850 kilometers (530 miles) south of Manila.
The U.S. military was investigating the attack, Schinnerer said, adding that it had not prompted any changes in U.S. military ground or air activities in the southern Mindanao region.
American troops have been based in Basilan, Zamboanga and nearby Jolo island since 2002, providing counterterrorism training and weapons to Filipino soldiers battling al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militants.
U.S.-backed offensives have dealt battle setbacks on the violent Abu Sayyaf group, forcing many of its gunmen to flee to nearby forested islands. The group, which has been blamed for deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings, has been blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organization.
Rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a larger group involved in peace talks with the Philippine government, are also active in predominantly Muslim Basilan. (AP) |
