Posted on 12/30/2003 5:09:21 AM PST by blam
Philippines to expel US 'militants'
The Stubbs brothers deny any links with Muslim militants
Two American brothers arrested in the Philippines and suspected of having links with Muslim militants will be deported, Manila authorities have said. The men, named as James and Michael Ray Stubbs, were detained on 13 December.
The authorities said the brothers had been questioned about alleged links with al-Qaeda - which they deny.
The Philippine Government says the militant organisation Jemaah Islamiah has been training Filipino rebels in the south of the country.
The two brothers, aged in their 50s, were born in the US state of Missouri, according to the Philippine authorities.
James Stubbs is a Muslim convert also known as Jamil Daud Mujahid.
The authorities say he and his brother have been in and out of the Philippines since early 2002.
'Undesirable'
According to Filipino officials, the two brothers have had contacts with the kidnapping group Abu Sayyaf and the Muslim separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Both groups have been labelled as terrorist organisations by Washington, and are said to have links with the pan-Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI).
As he was presented to reporters on Tuesday, James Stubbs rejected the accusation.
"We're Americans... These are all fabricated lies. I don't know any Muslims in the Philippines," he said.
The two men are to be deported to the US as "undesirable aliens", the authorities said.
The Philippines Government earlier this month said members of JI had been training Filipino rebels.
The group - which also has alleged links with al-Qaeda - is suspected of staging terror attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings.
Either that or starring in some major motion picture.
| Two U.S. brothers nabbed in Manila - terror ties eyed
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Michael Stubbs and his brother James, a convert to Islam, have been held at an undisclosed location since they were arrested this month in a town about 20 miles southwest of Manila, an immigration official said on the condition of anonymity. The official said the brothers were of Middle Eastern origin, but gave no other details. The authorities did not disclose the exact charges the men could face or provide details about their alleged links to terrorism. James Stubbs is known as Jamil Daoud Mujahid, according to State Department spokesman Adam Ereli. Reuters reported that Michael Stubbs was on a U.S. intelligence watch list. |
They'll probably find gainful employment working at Jacko's place.
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