Philippine Attacks :: essays research papers

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine forces launched attacks on tierce southern islands in an cause to wipe out the guerrillas who held a U.S. couple hostage for more than a year, military officers verbalise Sunday.The assaults, which started Saturday after one of the Americans and a Philippine unfree died in a extradite attempt, are aimed at the top 3 commanders of the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, said Philippine Maj. Gen. Ernesto Carolina.Martin Burnham, 42, and Ediborah Yap, 45, died in a shootout Friday when government troops ambushed their captors in jungles of the main southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Burnhams wife Gracia was shot through the thigh but rescued."Were now operate with greater ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine forces launched attacks on three southern islands in an safari to wipe out the guerrillas who held a U.S. couple hostage for more than a year, military officers said Sunday.The assaults, which started Saturday after on e of the Americans and a Philippine unfree died in a rescue attempt, are aimed at the top three commanders of the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, said Philippine Maj. Gen. Ernesto Carolina.Martin Burnham, 42, and Ediborah Yap, 45, died in a shootout Friday when government troops ambushed their captors in jungles of the main southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Burnhams wife Gracia was shot through the thigh but rescued."Were now operational with greater intensity. We will not let them get away with this," said Carolina, head of southern Philippine forces. He said no clashes were report as of Sunday morning.Carolina said 1,500 and 1,800 soldiers would arrive in the next three days to back troops already hunting the Abu Sayyaf on the islands of Jolo, Basilan and the responsibility of Zamboanga del Norte on Mindanao."We will allow to finish this war because terrorism is a scourge on the Earth," President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Sunday.All three mountainou s, jungle-covered areas bear in a 60-mile stretch of the Sulu Sea in the southwestern Philippines.It wasnt neaten how many troops were already involved in the operations, but thousands of soldiers have been in the area for months - since the military launched its offensive after the Abu Sayyaf seized the Burnhams and several some other hostages in May 2001.Carolina said soldiers on Mindanao were hunting Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya, who fled into muted jungle with about 40 men after the army attacked them during Fridays rescue mission.(AP) Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, right, extends her condolences to the family of slain.