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January 19, 2002, AP Worldstream, Philippine troops set up jungle training camp for U.S. Special Forces,

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January 19, 2002, AP Worldstream, Philippine troops set up jungle training camp for U.S. Special Forces

Dateline: ZAMBOANGA, Philippines Philippine troops have set up a jungle training camp for U.S. Special Forces ahead of a joint military exercise focused on wiping out a Muslim extremist group linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, a military spokesman said Saturday.

The "forward base" is on the southern island of Basilan, where Abu Sayyaf guerrillas are holding an American Christian missionary couple and a Filipino nurse, said Maj. Noel Detoyato of the military's Southern Command.

About 7,000 Philippine soldiers have been deployed to Basilan in a massive rescue operation, but the 800-strong Abu Sayyaf has continued to elude them since starting a wave of kidnappings last May.

Detoyato said "persistent" reports have indicated the guerrillas and their remaining hostages -- Filipino Deborah Yap and Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kansas -- are hiding in caves in the jungle, further complicating the search.

Detoyato said five U.S. soldiers visited the main army camp outside of Isabela, the capital of Basilan, Saturday to meet Filipino army commanders and logistics officers.

"They usually go to Basilan to inspect training sites and to discuss other details of the joint ... military training exercise," Detoyato said. He added, however, that the five U.S. soldiers did not visit the training forward base this time.

The five U.S. soldiers are part of an advance team of about two dozen. Some 660 U.S. soldiers, including 160 from the Special Forces, will join in the exercise dubbed "Balikatan," or "shouldering the load together."

Support and maintenance personnel will form the bulk of the U.S. forces, officials said.

Officials said U.S. troops will be allowed to visit the front lines to assess the equipment needs and training for Filipino soldiers. They said Filipino forces would receive training in psychological and intelligence operations as well as flying helicopters at night.

For the first time, the annual exercise is to be held in a combat zone. Armed U.S. troops are not allowed to engage guerrillas but can defend themselves.

In Manila, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is being criticized for allowing foreign intervention, said she welcomes a planned Senate inquiry into whether the exercise conforms with the Constitution.

"That's good," she said. "It will clear up things. Most criticisms are due to lack of understanding."

Former Sen. Francisco Tatad asked Arroyo to step down or face impeachment over her "very serious mistake in allowing the troops to land without appropriate constitutional or legal cover and without the prior knowledge and consent of the people."

However, no serving legislator has announced any impeachment plan.

In a related development, a separate monthlong joint U.S.-Philippine military exercise involving about 400 soldiers from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force entered its second day Saturday in the northern Philippines.

Army Maj. Kevin Coyler, who heads the U.S. contingent, told The Associated Press his troops would not be involved in the southern exercise.

"It's a totally separate exercise. My troops are not going down there, " Coyler said.

The "Balance Piston" maneuver is a joint command exchange training exercise aimed at making the armed forces of the two allies coordinate closely, he said.

"We get to learn about the culture, we get to work in a different environment ... we get to learn the language. (Philippine) forces get to learn about how we do business and we get to work closer together, " he said.

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