FBI chief arrives in RP

US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Robert Mueller arrived in the Philippines yesterday for talks with President Arroyo on the US-led international anti-terrorism campaign.

Mueller flew in from Bangkok on the fifth leg of his Southeast Asian trip that has also taken him to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta.

US embassy officials here declined to discuss his itinerary, but Arroyo aides said the president will receive Mueller at the Malacanang palace on Monday.

More than 600 US troops are advising Filipino soldiers hunting down the Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerrillas in the southern island of Basilan. Both governments say the group has links to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network.

Filipino officials said yesterday that Washington wants to add an extra battalion to conduct civic action projects on Basilan. – AFP