Iraqis funding anti-US rallies?

Supporters of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein are reportedly funding various groups to step up anti-US protests in Manila, police and military sources disclosed yesterday.

The same sources also revealed the funding apparently came from foreign sources, some of whom are from the al-Qaeda network of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden and supporters of the Iraqi strongman.

Classified intelligence also disclosed that some $200,000 in cash was distributed by Iraqi contacts to some members of secessionist groups in the country as the budget for "sympathy attacks" against the US.

A certain "Abdul K" is reportedly serving as the contact of local groups for their anti-US mission, the same sources added.

A separate information on tapping the assistance of local groups that would launch protests and possible sympathy attacks against US interests in the country is now being evaluated by the different intelligence agencies in the country, including the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA), sources said.

Without mentioning names, sources described the groups with dubious foreign funders as "those who are openly against the United States."

Another official said the group recently orchestrated the series of discussions on the pending US-Iraq war with charge d’ affairs of the Iraqi Embassy at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Military sources said they are evaluating reports that Hussein and his associates have sent officials to Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, to monitor public reaction and "developments" in the region shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack in the US.

The intelligence community is also wary about reports that anti-US groups may wage a sympathy war and attack American interests in the country.

"These are reports that we want to evaluate further. But at any rate, we are not lowering our guard down," one of The STAR sources said.

Security forces have been placed under heightened alert to thwart sympathy attacks by Islamic terrorists in the event of a US war on Iraq.

The military said it is well prepared against possible reprisals from Muslim extremists should the government support the US in the strike against Iraq.

Col. Michael Maniquiqis, AFP public information chief, said the military is ready to thwart any local attack from groups sympathetic to Iraq. "We are prepared to counter terrorist attacks," he said.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye earlier warned the public against waging "hate campaigns" against minority Muslims, noting that any US military action would be against Hussein and "not against the Iraqi people or Islam."

He said the government is not discounting the possibility of extremist-led terrorist attacks.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Dionisio Santiago earlier warned US troops, foreign embassies and other American interests in the country for possible attacks by extremists.

Last year, about 1,000 US Special Forces were sent to help Filipino troops fight the Abu Sayyaf in the south, leading to the death of a top leader of the bandit group and the rescue of an American hostage.

About 400 US military advisers are expected to arrive in the southern Philippines this month for counter-terrorist training. Santiago has said they could be targeted by sympathy attacks by Islamic militants and terrorists.

So far, only the communists took up the cudgels for Iraq by issuing a warning of renewed tactical offensives against the government.

Communist guerrilla spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said they will launch attacks "to defend the Iraqi people."

Rosal said the Arroyo administration will suffer "grave political consequences" for giving support to US plans to attack Iraq.