January 14, 2002, INQ7 / Agence France-Presse, US troops may be used against us: MILF spokesman,

January 14, 2002, INQ7 / Agence France-Presse, US troops may be used against us: MILF spokesman,

Posted: 12:31 PM (Manila Time)  

MUSLIM separatist guerrillas holding peace talks with the Philippine government expressed concern Monday that Manila could use anti-terrorist US military advisers against them.

More than 100 US counter-terrorism troops are due to be deployed in the southern city of Zamboanga next month, but President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has said they would be there to hold joint exercises with Filipino troops.

"There are fears that the American troops will be used against us," said Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesman Eid Kabalu.

The 12,500-member MILF, the largest Muslim guerrilla group in the country, signed a ceasefire with Manila last year in support of ongoing talks for a political settlement to the 23-year-old rebellion.

"As you know, we are on a defensive stance since we are holding negotiations with the government," Kabalu told reporters through a conference call with the Manila press.

"But in the event that the US troops will be used against us, we are ready to adopt the necessary measures to defend ourselves."

Philippine military officials earlier said the US troops would advise Filipino forces fighting against a smaller Muslim guerrilla group, the Abu Sayyaf.

Both governments say the Abu Sayyaf has links with the al-Qaeda network of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, the main suspect in the September attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States.

The Abu Sayyaf is holding a Christian missionary couple and a Filipina nurse hostage in the southern island of Basilan.