Philippines

March 2005 | Risk Summary

Fresh fighting between Philippine soldiers and the Abu Sayyaf and renegade members of the Moro National Liberation Front has broken out on the remote southern island of Jolo. Five rebels were killed in the latest clashes, according to army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Buenaventura Pascual, bringing to 100 the number of rebel deaths since fighting began on February 7. Philippines' President Gloria Arroyo has vowed to 'wipe out' the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, which has been blamed for three co-ordinated bombings on Valentine's day which killed 13 people.

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