November 18, 2002, AP Online, Philippine Militants Planned Attacks, by Jim Gomez,

November 18, 2002, AP Online, Philippine Militants Planned Attacks, by Jim Gomez,

MANILA, Philippines (AP) _ Muslim extremists planned to attack economic, religious and government targets with a truck bomb in the Philippine capital, a military official said Monday.

The attack was one of the top priorities on a list of targets disclosed by a captured bomb expert of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group that officials have linked to the al-Qaida terror network.

Abdulmukim Edris, 30, was arrested last week. Military officials earlier revealed that the U.S. Embassy, the Manila stock exchange and shopping malls were also potential targets.

The attack, on a highway overpass, was supposed to destroy a passing train, a Catholic shrine, a government building and a business center, the high-ranking military official said on condition of anonymity.

"It was an ideal target. They'll blow up the overpass and hit Catholic, economic and government symbols at the same time," the official said.

The overpass is on a site where two massive protests led to the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and President Joseph Estrada last year. The Catholic church, which backed the two revolts, built a shrine to the two events.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, a shopping center and an elevated train line are also in the area.

Edris allegedly headed a group of Abu Sayyaf guerrillas on southern Basilan island who were trained last year by two unidentified Middle Eastern men to make car and truck bombs.

The official said Edris was awaiting delivery of the explosives by fellow guerrillas when he was arrested.

Military Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Defensor said Edris faces murder and kidnapping charges and has been implicated in at least four bombings in the southern city of Zamboanga last month that killed 12 people and injured 200.

Defensor said Edris was the "mastermind" in the bombing of a food court in Zamboanga in October 2001, that killed six people and injuring 50 others.

He also allegedly participated in the raid on the Dos Palmas resort in which the Abu Sayyaf seized three Americans and 17 Filipinos in May 2001.

Meanwhile, an Abu Sayyaf leader wanted by the United States for the deaths of two American hostages said Monday he was ready to help the Philippine government, but only if the military halts its offensive on Basilan.

Hamsiraji Sali told ABS-CBN television that he has broken ties with the Abu Sayyaf faction led by Khadaffy Janjalani because of conflicting views.

Earlier this year, the U.S. government offered up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of five Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Sali, for the kidnapping of Americans Martin and Gracia Burnham and Guillermo Sobero.

The rebels beheaded Sobero and Martin Burnham was killed in a June 7 rescue attempt. Gracia Burnham was wounded but freed.