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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippine troops capture key rebel fort |
| 2005-02-16 |
| EFL Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the Phillipine military's Southern Command, flew by helicopter with local officials to Bitan-ag, a fortified hinterland camp near Panamao town that troops wrested from armed followers of jailed Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari after days of fierce gunbattles. About 100 to 200 gunmen apparently abandoned Bitan-ag, a sprawling training encampment with two wooden watch towers, underground bomb shelters, a parade ground and a one-story building that served as headquarters and home of rebel commander Habier Malik. Two large portraits of Misuari adorned the walls. Malik was reportedly wounded in a clash but was not captured. Troops were pursuing the gunmen, who fled in small groups toward Jolo's mountainous center as the military moved in Tuesday afternoon. About 3,000 soldiers and marines have been pursuing Misuari's followers _ backed by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas _ since they attacked an army detachment in Panamao on Feb. 7, provoking clashes that killed 27 soldiers and wounded 72 others. Troops have killed 37 gunmen and wounded scores of others, the military said. Arroyo's office said that it was studying a proposal for her to place Jolo and other violence-wracked regions under a state of emergency, which would give her more power to use the military to deal with security threats. Leftist groups have denounced the proposal, saying it would endanger |
| Posted by:trailing wife |