Abducted ‘imam’ has links with Bin Laden?

DAVAO CITY — Military intelligence agents were reportedly behind Saturday’s abduction of a Muslim priest in Tagum City, Davao del Norte because of his alleged links with Osama bin Laden, believed responsible for the terrorist attacks in the United States.

Intelligence officers of the Armed Forces, however, denied having any hand in the abduction of imam Hajji Said Kussain in front of the Tagum Islamic Center.

Five unidentified men accosted and dragged him to a waiting L-300 Mitsubishi van.

Kussain, according to police sources, reportedly worked for 10 years for a Bin Laden-owned construction company in Saudi Arabia.

Probers were not inclined to believe that Kussain was seized for ransom since his family is not rich.

His wife, Aida, said her husband is a good man and has had no quarrels with anyone.

"Please release my husband. We need him in the family," she said, adding that he has been sickly lately.