Posted on 01/18/2007 1:57:55 PM PST by NormsRevenge
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - At least 10 Al Qaeda-linked militants were killed in the Philippines in intensified operations ordered by President Gloria Arroyo a day after the military said it had slain their main leader.
The fighting on the southern Philippines island of Jolo came shortly after Arroyo pledged to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf group following the reported killing of one of its leaders, Abu Solaiman, in a gunbattle.
The fighting took place when marine troops caught up with a large group of Abu Sayyaf militants near the town of Patikul, the military's southern command said.
Initial reports from the field said 10 Abu Sayyaf rebels had been killed and two captured, spokesman Major Eugene Batara told reporters here.
The military headquarters in Manila confirmed the clash and said two soldiers had been wounded.
"The relentless pressure we have applied in the field is taking its toll and we will keep it up until all the terrorists and their clandestine cells are accounted for," Arroyo said in a statement.
She commended troops for the killing of Solaiman, described by the military as the most important leader of the Abu Sayyaf group.
Arroyo said her government would work more closely with the United States to tighten the dragnet and stop the movement of terrorists and funds used by such groups across Southeast Asia.
She said the government was "determined to finish the job with a hand of steel" to pave the way for peace and economic development in the troubled southern region.
Solaiman, also known as Jainal Antel Sali, was killed Monday in a clash with Filipino special forces on Jolo island, where more than 5,000 troops had mounted a months-long manhunt, the military said.
The US government had offered up to five million dollars for the capture of Solaiman, who allegedly masterminded a string of deadly bombings including a 2004 attack on a ferry that killed more than 100 people on Manila Bay.
He is also accused of having planned the kidnap of US Christian missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Peru-born Californian Guillermo Sobero.
The two men were killed in captivity but Gracia Burnham was later rescued.
The military earlier claimed it had recovered the decomposing body of a man they believed was top Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani, who was supposedly killed in a clash in September.
US forensics experts are helping Filipino authorities confirm the identity of the corpse. Philippines officials said Solaiman's presumed corpse would also undergo DNA testing.
Armed forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro said that with the deaths, the Abu Sayyaf was "suffering from a leadership vacuum."
"We will keep up the tempo, we will continue the conduct of military operation and our end state here is getting really their top leaders and the eventual destruction of the Abu Sayyaf group," he said.
This picture released by Malacanang Palace shows Philippine President Gloria Arroyo delivering her message during the convention of the Philippine's general assembly in a hotel in Manila. At least 10 Al Qaeda-linked militants were killed in the Philippines in intensified operations ordered by Arroyo a day after the military said it had slain their main leader.(AFP/HO)
Arroyo vows pressure on Abu Sayyaf militants - AFP
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070118/wl_asia_afp/philippinesattacksunrest_070118040521
"We will keep up the tempo, we will continue the conduct of military operation and our end state here is getting really their top leaders and the eventual destruction of the Abu Sayyaf group," he said. -- We will hunt you down and kill you.
Its been an awful winter for the allah akbar jihadis. And Bush intends to make it much much worse.
It seems that the winters have been mild in most places where these militants do their thing.. Thank goodness for global warming. ;-)
Hell, if this years NY Times trumpeted "taliban spring offensive" is as successful as last years, the jihadis will have to start using goats instead of scarce virgins in paradise.
And he knows he has less than 2 years left...
Yep. And if he does it strong and right, which I'm sure he will, then he sets up the GOP candidate for 08 nicely.
What a coinky dink. I thought the same thing. Especially with the 'rats having made their position clear. Unfortunately, they have the presstitutes on their side, Big Time. W needs to win the information war too. Make headlines. Gotta run, have a great evening...
The monkeys have no tails in ZAMBOANGA...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.