THE US government has granted the Philippines access to Riduan Islamuddin, also known as Hambali, said to be the closest link of the international terrorist al-Qaeda network in Southeast Asia. Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said he received a letter dated September 12 from US Secretary of State Colin Powell indicating Washingtonâs approval of a request for access to the international terrorist. However, unlike Indonesia which will send top-caliber investigators to the United States to question Hambali, the Philippines will just send a set of questions to Washington. âI understand that because Hambaliâs interrogation is ongoing and because of the need to conduct his interrogation in a carefully controlled environment, direct access to Hambali at this time is not possible,â he said.
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