Troops shell Abu Sayyaf positions in Kudarat

ZAMBOANGA CITY (AFP) - Government troops pounded suspected lairs of Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern province of Sultan Kudarat yesterday, where the group’s leader was believed hiding.

Soldiers were also searching a labyrinth of caves near the town of Palimbang where Abu Sayyaf chief Khaddafi Janjalani may be hiding, the military’s southern command said.

The troops began shelling rebel targets in the area Tuesday using 105-mm howitzer cannons and rockets. Government airplanes were also dropping bombs in the area to flush out the rebels.

There were no immediate reports of rebel casualties, however.

Troops in the southern Philippine were told to step up offensives against the Abu Sayyaf after two guerrillas captured last week confessed that the group was plotting fresh bombings.

Also Wednesday, troops raided a suspected Abu Sayyaf lair near the town of Patikul on the southern island of Jolo, triggering a brief running gunbattle but producing no casualties on either side.

The Abu Sayyaf is a small group of self-styled Islamic militants tagged a terrorist organization by both the US and Philippine governments.

It has been blamed for a series of bombings in recent years, as well as the abductions of foreigners including two Americans murdered two years ago. <