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US troops under fire in Philippines
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Jun 19 02:08 UTC 2002 |
US troops have come under fire in the Philippines for the first time since
they began joint operations to crush Abu Sayyaf rebels.
About 10 suspected rebels fired briefly on US military engineers working on
a road project in Maligue on the southern island of Basilan
US Marines guarding them returned fire, resulting in an unknown number of
casualties.
Security has now been stepped up, but the US said similar infrastructure
projects being undertaken by the US troops would not be affected.
More than 1,000 US troops are in the southern Philippines helping local forces
in hunting the Abu Sayyaf, who have been linked to the al-Qaeda network of
Osama bin Laden.
Some 340 of them are US engineers, known as the Seabees, who are building
roads, wells and rebuilding an abandoned airstrip in Basilan.
Hostage killed
A number of Abu Sayyaf rebels are known to be in the island's dense jungle.
The Americans are barred from taking part in combat except in self-defence.
But defence department spokesman Melchor Rosales said the US Marines had acted
within the guidelines that governed the joint operations.
US Navy construction teams are also building bridges, ports and helicopter
landing zones to help the Philippine military move around the island and
foster goodwill among the island's 300,000 residents.
Two weeks ago Filipino forces recovered US hostage Gracia Burnham in a bloody
rescue in which her husband, Martin, and a Filipina nurse were killed.
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Internet links:
Philippines president's office
US Army
US embassy in Philippines
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OOPS 2.
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