| Adm. Dennis Blair, the commander of the US forces in the Pacific, is in the Phillipines to confer on operations against the Abu Sayyaf group. The Abu Sayyaf has so far this year kidnapped 77 people—three Americans and 74 Filipinos—from Palawan and Basilan provinces. The bandits also beheaded at least 18 hostages, including American Guillermo Sobero. He confirmed local reports that the al-Qaeda has been financing the Abu Sayyaf through Mohammad Jamal Khalifa, the brother-in-law of bin Laden. |