Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Army overruns Muslim militant base on Jolo island (1:36 p.m.)
MANILA -- Philippine troops captured a base used by al-Qaeda-linked militants on a southern island after heavy fighting Wednesday, a military commander said.
In a pre-dawn barrage, troops bombarded the Abu Sayyaf camp on Jolo island with artillery and mortar fire. About 300 Philippine marine and army commandos battled around 200 militants, overrunning the camp by 7 a.m., said marine Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces on the island.
There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side.
"I think they are planning to do something big, so we beat them to it," he said, describing the operation as a pre-emptive strike.
The camp, in a remote area outside Indanan town, included a bomb-making facility, he said.
The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for numerous bomb attacks, kidnappings, and beheadings.
US-backed offensives against the militants, plus arrests and surrenders have reduced the Abu Sayyaf's strength to about 300 armed men from more than 1,000 during its heyday in 2000, according to the military. (AP) |
