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CNN Live At Daybreak

Key Abu Sayyaf Member May Have Been Killed

Aired June 21, 2002 - 05:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Philippine government believes its forces have killed a notorious leader of the ruthless Abu Sayyaf rebel group. The Muslim extremist rebels are known for kidnapping and killing a number of people, including two Americans.

Our Maria Ressa joins us live by video phone from Manila with the latest -- what can you tell us?

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, at this point it's been a little bit less than 13 hours since the actual encounter which wounded Abu Sabaya. Philippine troops are still in the waters off Zamboanga del Norte. They are searching for his body or for his injured men.

What we know for sure is in the predawn hours on Friday, the Philippine Navy, a special operations group of the Philippine Navy encountered a small pump boat with seven men on board. They tried to hail it down. That boat fired at the Philippine group, at the Philippine military. At that point, they opened fire back. They arrested -- they were able to capture four of those Abu Sayyaf men. Three were wounded. All three jumped overboard.

Based on the interrogation of these four men that they've captured, they did specify, authorities do know that Abu Sabaya was one of those who were on that boat. Abu Sabaya is actually one of the most notorious leaders. He's become the public voice of the Abu Sayyaf. He was the man, in particular, who was extremely instrumental in targeting Americans in particular. Over the last two years, he has kidnapped not just the Burnhams, who were held hostage for more than a year. He also had kidnapped Guillermo Sobero, who his group beheaded last year, and another American, Jeffrey Schilling, who escaped earlier before that.

He has also made the direct link to the al Qaeda group. Abu Sabaya has demanded the release of Ramzi Yousef, a terrorist linked to al Qaeda, who's still being held in U.S. prisoners for the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. He also demanded that the Burnhams read a letter of support for the al Qaeda while they were held hostage.

But at this point Filipino troops say that they're going to continue the search. They say they hope that they have gotten Abu Sabaya.

COSTELLO: All right, Maria Ressa reporting live from Manila this morning. Thank you.

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