September 28, 2004, AP / The Philippine Star, Major assault in Philippines to get Abu Sayyaf leader,

September 28, 2004, AP / The Philippine Star, Major assault in Philippines to get Abu Sayyaf leader, 

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - U.S.-backed forces have launched a major assault to capture or kill an Abu Sayyaf leader wanted by Washington, sparking clashes that killed a Philippine marine and left an undetermined number of rebels dead, officials said Tuesday.

The assaults, which began Friday in the mountain jungles of Patikul on southern Jolo island, were aimed at neutralizing Radulan Sahiron and a number of Abu Sayyaf commanders who reportedly had planned to meet there last week, apparently to plot another terror strike, military sources said.

Army Brig. Gen. Agustin Dimaala, who was helping oversee the operations, confirmed that assaults were under way against Sahiron's group, about 940 kilometers (580 miles) south of Manila.

One marine was killed and six others were injured, two while defusing a homemade bomb, officials said.

There was no indication if Sahiron, who is believed to have about 40 armed followers, had been killed in running gunbattles, officials said.

"We're optimistic,'' Dimaala told The Associated Press by telephone.

"The operations are continuing and the troops are still in the mountain.''

U.S. forces provided training and equipment to Filipino troops involved in the assaults, but were not involved in actual combat, Dimaala said, refusing to give further details.

Night-vision goggles provided by the Americans allowed Filipino troops to locate and engage a group of rebels, who have split into smaller groups, late Monday, another official said.

American help in the assaults indicates Washington's continuing desire to help the Philippines crush remnants of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf in the southern Mindanao region despite a high-profile spat in July over President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's decision to withdraw peacekeepers from Iraq to save a kidnapped Filipino.

U.S. officials are also concerned over the reported presence of secret terror training camps in Mindanao maintained by Jemaah Islamiyah, al-Qaida's Southeast Asian ally that has been blamed for deadly bombings and plots in the region.

Sahiron, a one-armed, horse-riding Abu Sayyaf commander based in Patikul, is on a U.S. Defence Department list of wanted terrorists.

Philippine authorities have linked him to a number of kidnappings, including the April 2000 abduction of 21 Western tourists and Asian workers from neighboring Malaysia.

Sahiron allegedly planned to meet one or more Abu Sayyaf commanders last week in Patikul, apparently to plan another terror strike, prompting the marines and army to undertake surveillance and assaults, one military officer said.

U.S.-backed assaults crippled and displaced the Abu Sayyaf's main faction on southern Basilan island two years ago, forcing surviving commanders and other guerrillas to flee to nearby Jolo and nearby regions.

Although now down to about 400 guerrillas from a peak strength of more than 1,000 men in early 2000, the Abu Sayyaf is still capable of bombings and other terror attacks, the military says. - AP