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Home/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ April 5, 1995, Chicago Sun-Times, Rebels Kill 100 in Philippines Siege // Military Blames Heavily-Armed Muslim Group, by Romy Tangbawan,

April 5, 1995, Chicago Sun-Times, Rebels Kill 100 in Philippines Siege // Military Blames Heavily-Armed Muslim Group, by Romy Tangbawan,

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April 5, 1995, Chicago Sun-Times, Rebels Kill 100 in Philippines Siege // Military Blames Heavily-Armed Muslim Group, by Romy Tangbawan,

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines About 200 Islamic separatists attacked a southern Philippine town Tuesday, plundering banks and stores, burning buildings and fighting government troops flown in to defend the town.

At least 100 people died and 30 more were injured before soldiers drove back the rebels, military officials said.

President Fidel Ramos declared a state of emergency in Ipil, a town of 50,000 on the island of Mindanao about 480 miles south of Manila, and put all troops on Mindanao on alert.

The government said the heavily armed men were members of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim group fighting for a religious state in the southern Philippines. The group has been linked to a plot to kill Pope John Paul II and blow up U.S. airliners over the Pacific.

Police said they found a banner in Ipil marking the Abu Sayyaf's third anniversary. The group surfaced publicly in 1993.

The gunmen, who arrived on boats, trucks and a bus, waited for a signal to raid four of the town's seven banks simultaneously at midday, according to radio reports and the military.

They also ransacked at least one department store and set many buildings on fire to confuse police and soldiers, said military spokesman Maj. Fredesvindo Covarrubias.

Radio reports said thick smoke filled the town, and one witness who arrived in Zamboanga by bus called Ipil "a burning inferno."

Miguela Mondido, who was shot in her left arm, was among 11 injured flown to Zamboanga. One of them died there. Mondido, 39, said she saw a truck full of men heading for the center of town.

"When the truck reached the commercial district, the armed men immediately jumped out of the truck, and I just heard shooting," Mondido said. "I just jumped out of the window. I don't know who fired at our bus."

She said the men wore military uniforms. Other witnesses reported seeing rebels in red headbands and some wore short pants and civilian clothes.

National police chief Recaredo Sarmiento said in a television interview that police confirmed that 23 people had been killed, but the military in Zamboanga and the interior secretary said at least 100 had died. Covarrubias said another 30 were wounded.

The military has accused Abu Sayyaf of bombings and ransom kidnappings. The group's targets include American and Spanish missionaries and Filipino businessmen. In January, two soldiers died and eight were wounded when the military stormed an Abu Sayyaf stronghold.

A former Abu Sayyaf officer who recently surrendered to authorities said Tuesday's raid was retaliation for the arrests of six Muslim extremists over the weekend. "There are many more such attacks that will follow," Edwin Angeles told a Manila television station.

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