U.S. troops are deployed worldwide

A U.S. military exercise to train Philippine soldiers fighting Muslim extremists is set to begin Thursday.

More than 600 U.S. troops are scheduled to take part in the exercise, which is to last about six months. Those troops and equipment began arriving in large numbers in the southern Philippines last week.

Gloria Arroyo

President Gloria Arroyo's government has defended its decision to accept American help in Manila's campaign against the Abu Sayyaf extremists. Critics have questioned the wisdom of inviting foreign troops onto Philippine soil, where they could be involved in combat. But, Ms. Arroyo has stressed that the U.S. troops will act as trainers, not front-line combatants.

Street protests against the U.S. presence have been relatively small.

Abu Sayyaf is thought to number only about 1,000 fighters. They are holding two Americans and a Philippine nurse hostage on southern Basilan island.

Washington has linked the extremist group to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version