Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Five Killed, 50 Wounded by Bombs in Philippines

Aired February 16, 2002 - 14:02   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the southern Philippines at least five people have been killed, 50 others wounded in two separate bomb blasts. One of the explosions rocked a movie theater as U.S. special forces arrived in the area for military exercises. No one has claimed responsibility, but authorities are pointing a finger at Muslim rebels.

This comes as the U.S. prepares to send more special operations troops into the Philippines. CNN's Jonathan Aiken joins us from the Pentagon now. Hi there, Jonathan.

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Well U.S. special forces units have been coming into the Philippines through the weekend. In fact, the latest group, about 30 soldiers who were brought in from Okinawa, Japan. All these troops are going to be part of a contingent of about 600 Americans who will be in the Philippines to train and advise Filipino soldiers, who spent the better part of the last year not only looking for, but also fighting the Muslim insurgent group, Abu Sayyaf.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COLONEL ALEXANDER ALEO, U.S. ARMY: The Americans just arrived yesterday. So these are the logistics, the communications and medics. They are setting up the facilities for the coming of the FOBs, Forward Observation Base -- Operational Base, and the advanced operational base.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AIKEN: Well, about 250 U.S. troops are already on the Zamboanga, which is adjacent to Basilan Island, which is thought to be the Abu Sayyaf base of operations. Now the U.S. says that Abu Sayyaf is linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda organization. This is the largest buildup of U.S. forces outside of Afghanistan, and it's all part of a joint training exercise with Philippine forces. And this is going to be a long-term effort; six months in the jungle. War games that are going to be taking place -- you might say war games with an edge, because they're going to be using live ammunition and firing at live targets.

Now, the Filipino troops being advised by these Americans have been on Basilan Island for some time, more than a year, as I mentioned, fighting Abu Sayyaf forces. Abu Sayyaf is a group that says it wants to win liberation for the Muslim dominated islands that are in the predominatly southern part of the Philippine chain. But officials both inside the Philippine government and out describe the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as a group of mercenaries who use kidnaps and ransoms as a way to fund their operations.

And, in fact, Abu Sayyaf is holding several people now, including a Filipino nurse. And they're also holding two American missionaries from Wichita, Kansas, Martin and Gracia Burnham from Wichita. We don't know much about the Burnham's fate, but we know that they were last seen on Basilan back in January.

Now Abu Sayyaf is just one of several insurgent Muslim groups that are operating in the southern part of the Philippine island chain, Fredricka, and they are a strong bunch. About 80 of them said to be operating on Basilan. And for the past year they have kept at bay close to 5,000 Filipino soldiers -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right. Thanks very much for that update, Jonathan.

AIKEN: Sure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com