January 19, 2002, AFP, Restive Muslim policemen finally leave Misuari stronghold,

January 19, 2002, AFP, Restive Muslim policemen finally leave Misuari stronghold,

Three hundred Muslim rebels-turned-policemen finally obeyed a government order and left the island stronghold of their detained leader Nur Misuari after a series of bloody battles with the military, Philippine officials said.

Regional police commander Acmad Omar said the 300 took a chartered ferry to the province of Maguindanao where they will stay in a police training camp while the violence on Jolo island is investigated.

The policemen, former members of Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), were involved in a series of clashes that claimed the lives of at least 12 Marines and elite Scout Rangers in Jolo island following protests over the detention of Misuari.

The Rangers and Marines had earlier been pulled out of Jolo to defuse tensions but the police had threatened to take up arms and refused orders to leave until now.

"We are glad it's finally over," Omar said.

"Now, all we have to do is to wait for the outcome of the investigations ordered by President (Gloria) Arroyo. For the meantime, the police integrees will stay in the barracks until we say so," Omar added.

The former rebels were integrated into the police force as part of a peace accord between the government and Misuari in 1996 in which Misuari was installed as governor of a Muslim autonomous area.

However in November Misuari mounted a renewed revolt in Jolo in an attempt to prevent his replacement in elections later that month.

The revolt was quashed and Misuari was arrested after fleeing to Malaysia and is now under detention in the Philippines facing rebellion charges.

Misuari's supporters have been staging protests in Jolo over his detention and violence broke out at one of their rallies earlier this week, leading to the bloody clashes between the police and the soldiers.

The military insist the Misuari-appointed police fired first but the police blame the military for starting the killing.

The Justice Department's investigating bureau is looking into the incident.