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US, Philippines Begin Anti-Guerrilla Exercises VOA News 31 Jan 2002 13:58 UTC 
The United States and the Philippines have launched joint military exercises aimed at wiping out a Muslim extremist group linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network. At a military camp in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga (Thursday), hundreds of troops from both countries attended a ceremony formally beginning the six-month exercises. Outside the camp, a small group of Flilipinos demonstrated against the American presence in their country. A similar group of protesters marched in front of the U.S. embassy in Manila. In Zamboanga, acting U.S. Ambassador Robert Fitts told soldiers the training will enhance the capabilities of both sides. He said the goal is to eliminate what he called the scourge of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group. About 600 U.S. soldiers, including special forces, will take part in the six-month training. But both sides have stressed that the Americans will not directly fight the Abu Sayyaf, except in self defense. The guerrillas already have killed one American hostage and are holding two more Americans captive, as well as a Philippine nurse. In an apparently unrelated incident, an American man was found dead on the slopes of Mount Pinatubo in the northern Philippines (Thursday). Officials initially blamed his death on communist guerrillas, but later said it was carried out by a local tribesman. Last year, a group of U.S. Navy personnel taking part in joint military exercises in the Philippines were fired on by suspected communist guerrillas on the slopes of Mount Pinatubo.
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