| The Philippines military says airstrikes in southern Maguindanao have killed the leader of a kidnap gang and at least a dozen of his followers. The military said Saturday that Tahir Alonto, chief of the so called Pentagon gang, died Friday when rockets and machine gun fire used in airstrikes ignited hidden explosives at his hideout. The Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said it had cooperated with authorities in giving the go-ahead for the operation in the group's stronghold. But a MILF spokesman says the group has been unable to confirm that Mr. Alonto died alongside at least 14 other gang members. Tahir Alonto was a former member of the rebel group, which has had a cease-fire with the Philippines government since July 2003. |