President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines yesterday won crucial backing for US troops to join military operations in the southern Philippines against the Muslim Abu Sayyaf group.
The National Security Adviser, Mr Roilo Golez, said Ms Arroyo told the National Security Council the US Special Forces would train Philippine soldiers and not engage in combat.
The issue of US troops fighting the guerrillas has been of key concern to politicians opposed to the US presence." The President is happy that there is a consensus," her spokesman, Mr Rigoberto Tiglao said.Mr Tiglao said they had all accepted the position that the US involvement in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas was allowed under the constitution. - (AFP)