Southeast Asia's Most Wanted Terrorists To Be Captured Soon
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Jolo, Philippines (AHN) - Colonel James Liner, commander of American forces in southern Philippines on Sunday expressed hope that some of Southeast Asia's most wanted terrorists would be captured soon after the U.S. has assisted a major offensive in southern Philippines to track down the militants. He said Philippine troops, "are making great progress every day and I would not be surprised if those lawless elements that you mentioned are brought to justice very soon." The U.S. commander is referring to Khaddafy Janjalani, chief of the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, and two Indonesian militants belonging to the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah, Umar Patek and Dulmatin. The Philippine military, with the assistance of U.S. intelligence, launched a major offensive on August 1 to hunt down and capture the militants. An estimated 80 members of the extremists have been killed since the start of the offensive and 10 others were captured in several skirmishes. At least 10 government troops and one policeman also have died, authorities said. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon has expressed gratitude over the amount of military intelligence being provided by the U.S. government saying the support gives the military a crucial advantage in hunting down the militants. The U.S. has stationed its forces in the southern part of the Phil |
