Philippine troops aided by US military advisers have rendered the Abu Sayyaf guerrilla group inoperative for nine months, Filipino officials said today.
The officials hailed the success of the six-month US military operation in the southern Philippines as a success after US help led to the rescue of the Muslim rebels' last hostages and the killing of one of their senior leaders, Abu Sabaya.
The 1,000-member US team is winding down its mission ahead of the soldiers' withdrawal on Wednesday.
Southern Philippines military chief Lieut Gen Ernesto Carolina said the group, linked by the US and Philippine governments to the al-Qaeda network, was down to about 200 members, or one-fifth of its strength last year.
The Philippine military, using forces trained by the Americans, are going after three Abu Sayyaf units - half of them on the island of Jolo and the rest scattered over Basilan island and the Zamboanga peninsula on the main southern island of Mindanao, Lieut Gen Carolina said.
In Manila, President Ms Gloria Arroyo criticised the political left for defending Islamic "terrorists" by airing unsupported allegations that US and Filipino troops had violated human rights.
AFP