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Philippine troops hunt militants after jail break
Source: Agencies |
December 15, 2009, Tuesday
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ABOUT 2,000 troops fanned out on a southern Philippine island yesterday to hunt down Muslim guerrillas blamed for a deadly attack on a jail as well as 31 inmates who escaped.
Soldiers killed one fugitive from the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group, while another inmate surrendered, a senior military commander said.
Major General Benjamin Dolorfino blamed the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front for Sunday's brazen raid on the Basilan provincial jail. He demanded the group surrender 10 guerrillas who escaped or helped in the assault that killed a jail guard and one of the attackers.
The main rebel group, which last week resumed peace talks with the government, denied any role but acknowledged at least one member who joined the attack was killed.
The raid was the latest crises underscoring the complexity of conflicts in the southern Philippines, an impoverished region awash with firearms, outlaws, political warlords and Muslim insurgents.
About 70 gunmen used a sledgehammer and boltcutters to tear a hole in the concrete wall of the jail, which had 40 detainees, then barged inside. Five Moro rebels and 12 from the smaller Abu Sayyaf extremist group escaped, Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said.
Soldiers killed one fugitive from the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group, while another inmate surrendered, a senior military commander said.
Major General Benjamin Dolorfino blamed the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front for Sunday's brazen raid on the Basilan provincial jail. He demanded the group surrender 10 guerrillas who escaped or helped in the assault that killed a jail guard and one of the attackers.
The main rebel group, which last week resumed peace talks with the government, denied any role but acknowledged at least one member who joined the attack was killed.
The raid was the latest crises underscoring the complexity of conflicts in the southern Philippines, an impoverished region awash with firearms, outlaws, political warlords and Muslim insurgents.
About 70 gunmen used a sledgehammer and boltcutters to tear a hole in the concrete wall of the jail, which had 40 detainees, then barged inside. Five Moro rebels and 12 from the smaller Abu Sayyaf extremist group escaped, Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said.
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