January 21, 2002, AFP, Rumsfeld mum on combat role for US troops in Philippines,

January 21, 2002, AFP, Rumsfeld mum on combat role for US troops in Philippines,

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (AFP) -

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld continued Sunday to sidestep the question of whether US troops arriving in the Philippines would engage in combat.

Up to 600 US troops -- not some 650 as previously reported -- would take part in joint training exercises in the islands and advise Filipino military forces in their campaign to crush Islamist rebels, Rumsfeld said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Meanwhile, three C-130 aircraft from a US military base in Japan landed at a base in the southern Philippines with troops, vehicles and communication equipment.

It is the largest overseas deployments of US soldiers since the military campaign in Afghanistan.

"We are working with the Philippines, shoulder to shoulder, to provide training in a whole host of techniques and things that are appropriate to chasing down terrorists," Rumsfeld said.

The Abu Sayyaf guerrilla group, which both governments have said is linked to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden, is holding two American hostages on the island of Basilan.

Asked if the US troops would take part in combat, he said: "It's my understanding that the Philippines constitution prohibits having combat forces of other nations."

However, Rumsfeld hinted US troops might play an active role in helping to rescue the hostages, saying "We certainly are anxious to have those missionaries released or recovered."

Protesting leftist groups in the Philippines have claimed the US advisers would eventually turn their help into a campaign against the New People's Army.

The NPA is a 12,000-member Maoist guerrilla group that has been included in an international "terrorist blacklist" circulated by Washington.

Manila says the deployment is covered by an agreement allowing joint military exercises in the Philippines. The Philippine government has said US troops will be kept back from the front lines, although they will be armed and allowed to defend themselves if attacked.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the deployment was within the framework of the global campaign against terrorism.

"We have a mission under way in the Philippines which is where apparent associated terrorist operations associated with Osama bin Laden have been active," Powell told Fox News.