Problems hound Abu Sayyaf AFP

MANILA, Philippines – Leadership and funding problems, along with incessant US-backed offensives, have prevented the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group from launching more major attacks, a military official said yesterday.

Abu Sayyaf factions have failed to choose a suitable replacement for rebel chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani and his successor, Abu Sulaiman, who were killed in clashes with US-backed Philippine forces in 2006 and 2007 respectively, Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban said.

Janjalani and Sulaiman are believed to have united at least six Abu Sayyaf factions on the southern islands of Jolo and Basilan and developed relations with Asian and Middle Eastern financiers. A number of possible successors have been considered, according to intelligence officials.

“They haven’t been able come up with a single, influential leader who can unite the different factions,” Sabban told The Associated Press, citing intelligence information and monitoring of the rebels. – AP