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1400 US troops headed for Philippines war games
Some 1,400 US troops are en route to Mindanao to take part in joint military exercises in areas threatened by Islamic militants, the US embassy here said Thursday. The combined naval tactical operations exercise, to start on May 31, would be held in the southern port of Zamboanga and the nearby island of Basilan, an embassy statement said.The maneuvers are designed to enhance the ability of our nations to work together in maritime situations that range from natural disasters to maritime interception of criminals and terrorists, it said. They include a tactical scenario where the US and Philippine navies will operate together in teams, focussing on improving communication and information sharing. Basilan is a hotbed of the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant group linked to the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden, while the Zamboanga port has been a frequent target of Abu Sayyaf bombings. Posted by: ryuge 2007-05-25 |
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