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Sunday, 17 February, 2002, 12:16 GMT
US troops begin Philippine exercises
Some Filipinos are sceptical of the US troops' role
US special forces have arrived for exercises on the island of Basilan in the southern Philippines, joining an advance party sent in on Friday.
Kidnappers of the Abu Sayyaf group are still holding several hostages on Basilan, including two Americans. The US soldiers' mission is to train Philippine troops who are searching for the kidnappers, but BBC Manila correspondent John McLean says there is a chance that the Americans will themselves become involved in fighting. The troops' arrival comes a day after two bomb blasts blamed on opponents of the exercises killed at least five and injured at least 43 people. Bin Laden connection At a Philippine army camp on the south-western island of Basilan, huge Chinook helicopters flew in the first of some 160 US special forces soldiers that are due to be deployed there.
The Abu Sayyaf are holding hostage two Americans and one Filipino. The US special forces' official purpose is to provide training for some of the thousands of Philippine troops already deployed on Basilan in an effort to rescue the hostages. The Americans are not supposed to get into the line of fire but they will be armed and can shoot back if attacked. But our correspondent says some Filipinos are sceptical. They believe that the US soldiers intend to mount a rescue operation themselves. Blasts Philippine forces have been trying to eradicate the Abu Sayyaf for more than two years, but the kidnappers control the mountains and jungles of Basilan and have the support of some local people. Security fears were heightened on Saturday by two bomb blasts on neighbouring islands. At least five people died in an explosion at a market on the troubled island of Jolo, with over 40 injured. Hours later, a second blast was reported at a crowded cinema in Zamboanga on the island of Mindanao, near a temporary base for US troops on their way to Basilan. At least three people were injured.
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