Militants have nowhere to hide: Manila's Arroyo

Jolo (Philippines), Jan 8: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the rebel and pirate-infested island of Jolo today and said terrorists in the country had nowhere to hide.

She was commending troops on the remote southern island who have been fighting militants from the Abu Sayyaf group for years. On Saturday, troops killed six militants, including five Filipinos and one Indonesian, who is said to be a member of the regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah.

''This only proves that these terrorist elements have nowhere to hide and are in fact already doomed to annihilation,'' Arroyo told troops at an army camp on the island.

Jolo, in the seas to the southwest of the Philippines, has long been a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. It is also home to pirates who prey on rich shipping lanes from China to Southeast Asia and to other Muslim separatists.

At least two Indonesians suspected of involvement in the 2002 bombings on the tourist island of Bali are believed to be hiding on Jolo along with the Abu Sayyaf.

The man killed on Saturday was said to be an aide.

Philippine military chief Hermogenes Esperon said today that he was trying to find an escape route for the two Bali bombers, who have been trapped on Jolo for several months.

At least 7,000 soldiers and some U S military advisers are on Jolo to combat the Abu Sayyaf. A major offensive against the group was launched on August 1.

Officials say the troops have since then killed 80 of the 400 or so Abu Sayyaf members on Jolo while 20 soldiers have been killed and 90 wounded.

REUTERS