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MILF says Malaysian terrorist hiding in Moro territory
A Malaysian wanted by the U.S. for terrorist activities in southeast Asia is hiding in territory held by Moro militants in this province, according to a senior Bangsamoro leader Another source said a member of the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah is also hiding in the province of Sultan Kudarat. Von Al Haq, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said that Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, is being safeguarded by a breakaway group led by Ameril Umra Kato. Kato, formerly a MILF commander, broke away from the MILF in 2008 over disagreements with fellow militant leaders over negotiations with the government. He has since founded the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) whose armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), has been involved in recent attacks on government security forces in Maguindanao, including a roadside bomb attack that injured seven soldiers on Wednesday. Al Haq said Marwan may have played a role in the Aug. 5 bombing in Cotabato City that killed eight people and injured nearly 30 others. He said, "That's what we got on the ground. He's hiding among BIFF members. We also got feedback from residents (of areas) near BIFF camps." A military source said an Indonesian national was among those killed in a recent military operation against the BIFF in Datu Piang. In a separate statement, Col. Dickson Hermoso said there was an intelligence report that a Jemaah Islamiyah member had been spotted among Moro militants in Datu Piang. But BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama denied his group had ties with Marwan or any Jemaah Islamiyah member. Posted by: ryuge 2013-08-10 |
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