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August 14, 2000, Manila Bulletin, Another Bomb Blast Kills 2 in Cotabato,

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August 14, 2000, Manila Bulletin, Another Bomb Blast Kills 2 in Cotabato,

COTABATO CITY (AFP) -- At least two people were killed and 11 others wounded, two critically, when a bomb believed planted by Muslim separatists exploded at a burger restaurant in Carmen, North Cotabato, police said yesterday.

Initial reports said the bomb exploded at 10 a.m. inside the restaurant in Carmen, killing a 13-year old boy and a soldier, provincial police chief Supt. Alex Paul Monteagudo said.

Eleven others sustained shrapnel wounds and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where two of them were said to be in critical condition, he said.

Monteagudo said the explosive was made of 81millimeter mortars strapped to a timer device and was similar to those used by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in previous attacks.

"This is condemnable, the military and government should immediately act on this," said the mayor of Carmen, Moises Arendain.

The MILF is the country's largest remaining Muslim insurgent group and is waging a 22-year armed struggle for an independent Islamic state in the main southern island of Mindanao.

It has been blamed for a series of massacres and bombings that left at least 50 civilians, mostly Christians, dead in central Mindanao following its declaration of a "jihad" (holy war) last month.

The jihad was declared in retaliation for the capture of its main camp in July, which dispersed MILF guerrillas into smaller units across several provinces.

Two weeks ago, MILF guerrillas ambushed a group of civilians on a highway in Carmen, killing 16 people, including children.

Last month, 60 people were hurt and at least two were killed when the MILF planted a bomb at a crowded market, also in North Cotabato. The group also massacred 21 mostly Christian villagers in Bumbaran town in nearby Lanao del Sur province.

A bomb attack outside the Jakarta residence of the Philippine ambassador to Indonesia two weeks ago was also linked by authorities to the MILF or its Indonesian supporters.

The blast killed two people and wounded 21, including the ambassador.

The government last week announced a P9-million ($204,500) bounty for MILF leader Hashim Salamat, its military chief Mohamad Murad, and rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu.

Military vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim said another rebel leader, MILF vice chair for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar, was spotted in Indonesia, where he was believed to be seeking aid from supporters there.

Meanwhile, military reports reaching Manila on Sunday said one soldier was killed and three others wounded in a clash with some 70 MILF fighters in Mindanao's Maguindanao province on Saturday.

The report said soldiers were patrolling Kurimtim village in Maguindanao when they were attacked by the rebels, triggering a 45-minute firefight that left Corporal Crisando Figueras dead and three others, including an officer, wounded.

The presidential palace in an official statement said it was still hopeful peace talks with the MILF would resume despite "sporadic encounters."

The statement quoted Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado as saying that MILF leaders could still seek immunity from arrest as long as they sit down to negotiate.

Peace talks are tentatively set for later this month, it added.

Libya

JOLO, Sulu (DPA) - A Libyan mediator yesterday flew into Jolo to launch fresh efforts to persuade Islamic extremists to free more than a dozen hostages held captive for more than three months.

Former Libyan ambassador Rajab Azzarouq returned to Jolo one month after he offered a package of livelihood assistance to the Abu Sayyaf rebels in exchange for the freedom of the hostages.

Azzarouq's surprise arrival was expected to boost continuing negotiations to end the 113-day hostage standoff.

Mohamad Ismail, an aide of Azzarouq, said it was "too early to talk about the immediate release of the hostages." But he stressed that as soon as the crisis was resolved, "we will start our promised livelihood projects".

"I cannot give a figure, but these projects will include housing, schools, health centers, and Islamic centers," he said. "The funds will be channeled through the government and the projects will cover the entire Sulu province."

Ismail stressed that Libya "did not and will not" offer $25 million in ransom to the Abu Sayyaf to redeem five French nationals, three Malaysians, two Germans, two Finns, two South Africans, two Filipinos, and a Franco-Lebanese woman.

Fourteen of the hostages were among a group of 21 tourists and workers abducted from the Malaysian diving island resort of Sipadan on April 23, while three are French television journalists seized while on their way to interview the captives on July 9.

Six Malaysians and an ailing German woman from the Sipadan group have already been freed, as well as two Filipino journalists and a German news magazine writer seized by Abu Sayyaf factions.

The military has confirmed the Abu Sayyaf has collected more than $5.5 million dollars in ransom payments. The bulk of the money has been used to purchase new firearms and recruit more members.

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said there were no immediate prospects of the hostages being released. He declined to give details on the progress of the negotiations

"We are in the secret mode right now and you will just know the results later on," he said.

An emissary identified only as "Scorpio" has been in the extremists' jungle hideout since Friday to discuss the release of all hostages in one batch, an aide of Aventajado said.

Twelve Christian "prayer warriors" who held 40 days of fasting for the captives left the rebels' hideout on Thursday and were expected to return to downtown Jolo anytime, according to a former local official who coordinated the prayer mission.

The evangelists paid $3,500 and 35 sacks of rice to enter the Abu Sayyaf hideout in July. While the rebels had declared them as hostages, Aventajado said he was no longer considering the preachers as captives since they went it voluntarily.

Cult

ZAMBOANGA CITY (AFP) - Army forces were yesterday scouring a southern Philippine town for remnants of a fanatical Christian cult after a fierce clash with authorities that left 20 people dead, officials said.

Police in Pangantukan town, Bukidnon province were also put on high alert as they launched an investigation into the Catholic God's Spirit cult, whose leaders had reportedly been recruiting local youths prior to the clash.

The sect, whose ranks according to initial police and military reports number fewer than a hundred, on Sunday splintered into smaller groups as members attempted to evade arrest and consolidate forces elsewhere, an army spokesman said.

"The cultists have divided themselves into small units to elude military troops, but members of the army continued scouring nearby areas," the spokesman said.

"Police are also conducting their own investigation and have placed check points in the province," he said. "If they peacefully surrender that is better, but we are prepared for any eventuality."

Mayor

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A town mayor of Lanao del Sur cheated death when suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ambushed his service vehicle last Saturday afternoon, critically injuring his seven bodyguards.

Bacolod Kalawi Mayor Dimnagadap Dipatuan escaped unhurt from the valley of gunfires fired them by suspected members of the MILF in the outskirts of his town.

Dipatuan and his security escorts were on their way to Marawi City when they were ambushed by the rebels about 5:30 p.m.

The Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) said yesterday Dipatuan's military escorts fought back at the rebels for almost 30 minutes before the MILF withdrew to the different direction.

The military believed that some of the attackers were wounded as evidenced by the blood stains that were seen by the military on their escape route.

Soldiers stationed near the ambushed site immediately responded to the call for assistance by the beleaguered soldiers. As of yesterday, the reinforce soldiers continued their hunt against the suspects whom they believed are still in the area. (Nonoy E. Lacson)

Summit

ILIGAN CITY - Retired Lt. Gen. Edgardo Batenga, chairman of the government peace panel and undersecretary of the Department of National Defense, is expected to arrive here as the keynote speaker of the one-day Regional Peace and Economic Summit at the Maria Cristina Hotel, this city.

Batenga will enlighten the delegates on the present status of the ongoing peace talks while lawyer Allan Flores, MILF technical committee member representing the MILF peace panel chairman, Aleem Abdulaziz Mimbantas, will talk on vital issues and problems affecting the peace process.

Flores said notwithstanding the conflict of these two parties, they are hopeful for the resumption of the GRP-MILF formal peace talks, stressing the importance of the sincerity of both parties. (Asa T. Madale)

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