Free Republic

MANILA (AFP) - Jailed Al-Qaeda-linked militants remain holed up in a maximum-security Philippines prison after overpowering guards in a bloody escape attempt that has left up to six people dead in a shootout. Hundreds of snipers and police special forces units have surrounded a group of armed militants on an upstairs floor of the Camp Bagong Diwa jail and are awaiting orders to storm the building, police said. The militants overpowered the guards and seized three of their guns during a routine early morning headcount of the 435 inmates, who include 129 members of the Al-Qaeda-linked Muslim Abu Sayyaf gang...

The al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the southern Philippines has been dealt a severe blow with the capture of their top leader, Galib Andang. This is good news for Christians, Christian workers, and Western tourists to the region. Abu Sayyaf finances itself through a kidnap-for-ransom scheme. Philippine military nabbed Galib Andang, popularly known as Commander Robot, after a gun battle in southern Jolo island late Sunday, as he was planning yet another abduction. Back in May, 2001, the US government had offered bounty totaling five million dollars for the capture of Abu Sayyaf leaders for their act in kidnapping...

A TOP Abu Sayyaf rebel leader implicated in the kidnapping of dozens of mostly European hostages in April 2000 was captured in an operation in the southern Philippines today, the military chief said. Galib Andang, popularly known as Commander Robot, was held after a gunfight on the island of Jolo, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Narciso Abaya said. "This is one big step in our international fight against terrorism," Abaya said, without giving details. Andang, who was wounded in the gunbattle, was part of a band of Abu Sayyaf members who raided Malaysian resorts in Sipadan island in...