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| Sunday, 23 June 2002 |
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Bush lauds killing of Philippines rebel chief ORLANDO, Fla. June 21 (Reuters) U.S. President George W. Bush hailed his Philippines counterpart Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday after her forces reported killing a Muslim rebel leader involved in the kidnapping of an American couple. Arroyo "did the world a great service", Bush said in a speech in Orlando, Florida. Arroyo said in a statement issued in Manila that her generals had reported killing Abu Sabaya, the best-known leader of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group, in a clash between navy special forces and rebels in a motorized dinghy early on Friday. "They are now looking for his body. He was seen to have fallen into the water and drowned," Arroyo said. Bush noted that Abu Sabaya had been a leading figure in the kidnap of American missionaries Martin Burnham and his wife Gracia last year. Philippines soldiers attacked the rebel group holding the Burnhams and Filipina nurse Deborah Yap two weeks ago. Martin Burnham and Yap were killed in the fighting and Gracia Burnham was wounded, but she is now back in the United States. "They kidnapped, they killed. And today their leader met his maker," Bush said. "I want to congratulate the president of the Philippines. I appreciate her leadership and her strength. It goes to show that by assembling a vast coalition of freedom-loving countries, that when we work together and are strong and are diligent, we can succeed. And that's what's going to happen," he said. The United States has offered up to a $5-million reward for information leading to the arrest or the capture of five Abu Sayyaf commanders. U.S. special forces have been training Philippines troops in jungle warfare and counter terrorism to upgrade their skills. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday it was up to Manila to determine when the training should end. |
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