Philippine Troops Begin Assault on Muslim Separatists

Philippine troops backed by US surveillance teams fought in a major battle with Abu Sayyaf guerrillas today, in an offensive that the government hopes will eradicate the Muslim separatist group once and for all.

The Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, issued a brief statement saying that troops were targeting the group's two leading commanders.

The government claimed to have overrun four Abu Sayyaf camps on the southern island of Jolo, in the Sulu province. "We are now having a major battle in Sulu, right in the camp where the Abu Sayyaf was born," the president said.

Military officials reported a clash between Philippine army scout rangers and about 150 Abu Sayyaf guerrillas yesterday. They said that the guerrillas were being tracked by US surveillance planes and satellites.

US special forces have been training the Philippine army in counter-insurgency warfare.

An army officer was killed and six others wounded in yesterday's gun fight. Military sources said that the rebels were being led by the Abu Sayyaf chieftain, Khaddafy Janjalani.

He is on a list of Filipinos wanted by the US.

The president said troops were going after him and Isnilon Hapilon, who also is on the US wanted list.

A military statement said the camps targeted in the on-going action had been set up in Patikul town.

"In one of the camps, the area had five bunkers and a mess hall large enough to accommodate more than 50 persons," the statement said.

About 5,000 troops have been deployed in the region. Military planners believe that the number of Abu Sayyaf guerrillas has been reduced from about 1,000 to fewer than 250 in the past year.

The president has repeatedly vowed to crush Abu Sayyaf, a group that has committed mass kidnappings and murder.

The latest mass kidnapping involved 102 hostages and lasted for more than a year.

An American couple, Martin and Gracia Burnham, and a Filipino nurse, Ediborah Yap, were the last hostages. A rescue attempt on June 7 left Mr Burnham and Ms Yap dead, along with four of the rebels. Mrs Burnham was shot in the thigh and evacuated.

The end of the abduction left the rebels with no more western captives. The government sent thousands of troops into the area in an effort to finish off the group for good.

Last Friday, the military intercepted seven rebels as they tried to flee on a boat. Three were presumed dead, including Abu Sabaya, the group's chief spokesman and the man who led the last kidnapping spree.

About 1,000 US Green Berets, pilots, support staff and military engineers are in the Philippines on a six-month mission to train and advise Filipino troops fighting Abu Sayyaf.

A military official said that US surveillance and satellite technology is being used in the current offensive.

Jolo, an island 580 miles south of Manila, has long been the refuge of Muslim rebels, bandits and pirates.

Three Indonesian seamen are being held near Luuk town on the island, after they were abducted at sea by bandits last week.