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| Southeast Asia |
| 6 Abu Sayyaf killed in Maguindanao |
| 2005-07-15 |
| Army troops, backed up by helicopter gunships, have intensified their operation against beleaguered Abu Sayyaf terrorists who suffered six fatalities in last Monday’s gun battle in Maguindanao, a belated report said. Maj. Onting Alon, 6th Infantry Division deputy spokesman, said the clash broke out shortly before noon last Monday in the mountain village of Tamar, Talayan town near the border of Datu Odin and South Upi towns. Alon said the encounter came about as a result of information relayed by Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels now collaborating with the government in pursuance of conditions set in a ceasefire pact. The ad hoc joint action group composed of the military, police and the MILF even ordered the operations against the Abu Sayyaf and the regional al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah band. In the fighting, Alon said, several other bandits were wounded. Three soldiers were also injured in the heavy exchange of gunfires. "There were six terrorists killed in the midday battle in barangay Tamar, Talayan town and several others wounded. Those slain, however, appeared to be not leaders," Alon said in a mobile-phone interview. The battle has also led to the evacuation of 400 villagers in a nearby village in Datu Odin Sinsuat but the municipal government headed by Mayor Sinsuat, in cooperation with the Red Cross and Office of Civil Defense, was quick to give relief operation. Helicopter gunships and jetfighters unleashed several rounds of machinegun and rocket fires during bombing sorties targetting some 30 heavily armed men of Khadafi Janjalani and some JI operatives. The military report was confirmed by Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, who said that the front’s participation was confined to gathering of intelligence reports on the location of the terrorist groups and the identities of the leaders. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |