Posted on 12/30/2001 8:19:59 PM PST by Freedom of Speech Wins
·PhilippinesSunday December 30 3:50 PM ET
Muslims Killed in Philippine Raid
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine Marines raided a Muslim guerrilla camp in a southern jungle, killing 13 combatants in a five-hour battle, a military official said Sunday.
The skirmish took place Saturday in Jolo island, about 590 miles south of Manila, the latest of a series of battles in the southern region of Mindanao.
The military learned of the rebel casualties through two-way radio intercepts, said Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, the southern military chief.
Cimatu said the rebels were Abu Sayyaf guerrillas and followers of Nur Misuari, the former governor of an autonomous Muslim region in the southern Philippines.
Misuari, a former Muslim separatist guerrilla leader who signed a peace accord with the government in 1996, has allegedly allied himself with the Abu Sayyaf in recent months.
He remains detained in Malaysia, where he was arrested Nov. 24 while apparently fleeing a Philippine military manhunt in connection with a deadly attack by his followers on a Jolo army camp. Philippine officials said Misuari will be sent back to the Philippines next month for trial.
The Abu Sayyaf is a small, violent Muslim extremist group with alleged links to Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al-Qaida terror network. The rebels are notorious for kidnapping foreigners and are currently holding an American couple and a Filipino nurse on the nearby island of Basilan.
Philippine soldiers, backed by the U.S. military with weapons and combat training, have been hunting Abu Sayyaf guerrillas on Basilan since May.
Also well-known for cutting off their hostages' heads. Another Muslim "tic," I suppose.
More than just that... these Muslims to the cutting with a small dull knife and cut the head off by slowly sawing it off while the victim is still alive... the religion of peace...
Yes it is. I have been saying for years, they know where these dirt bags are, why not just go get them? Looks like they did this time. I am not sure how close this is to where my lady is, but it is the same province.
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.