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CNN Live Saturday

Two Explosions Kill At Least 5 in the Philippines

Aired February 16, 2002 - 17:03   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: At least five people are dead and at least 50 injured after two explosions today in the Southern Philippines. Police aren't sure yet if the blasts are related. The violence comes as the U.S. sends more Special Operations troops to the Philippines. CNN's Jonathan Aiken joins us live now from the Pentagon with details. Hi there, Jonathan.

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. What we're talking about here is the largest buildup of U.S. forces outside of Afghanistan in this war on terrorism, and it is indeed happening in the Philippines. The latest group, a contingent of Special Forces, about three dozen or so, coming in from Okinawa, Japan this weekend. They will join a contingent of what will grow to be about 600 U.S. troops who will be joining Philippine soldiers, not only for technical advice and some training, but also to take part in a six-month exercise. Essentially, these are war games, war games in which the U.S. and the Philippine troops will be using live ammunition and they will be shooting at real targets.

We have a map to show you where all this is taking place in the Philippines. It's happening in a city called Zamboanga, which is just across the straight from Basilan island, which is a base of operations for a group known as Abu Sayyaf. This is a group the United States says has ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

Abu Sayyaf is a group that has been a thorn in the side of the Philippine government for some time. The group proclaims that it wants to seek -- that it wants to gain independence for the predominantly Muslim islands in the southern part of the Philippine island chain. The people both in and out of the Philippine government say the group's goals are more mercenary, and that they use a series of kidnappings and ransom demands in order to funds their various efforts.

And in fact, the group is holding some hostages now. They're holding a Philippine nurse, and they're also holding a pair of American mission from Wichita, Kansas, Martin and Gracia Burnham. The Burnhams were last seen under Abu Sayyaf control in Basilan last month.

U.S. officials, Fredricka, say the presence of American soldiers helping to train the Philippine troops is a psychological boost for the Philippine forces. We should point out that the Philippine troops have been in Basilan for the past year, 5,000 of them, in fact, going after 80 Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, and they haven't captured all of them yet.

WHITFIELD: Now, Jonathan, in any way will security be a concern for the U.S. troops?

AIKEN: Security is a concern, especially in light of these attacks that took place. One of the blasts took place not far from the U.S. command center. Whether or not that was the exact goal of the bombers nobody is clear. The president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has been taking some heat domestically for allowing the United States in.

Ever since September 11, President Arroyo has been upfront in joining the United States in its war on terrorism, and she has received the benefits of that from Washington, millions of dollars in new military equipment and also in financial aid from the government. But she's also had her share of criticism, from people who say it's not right to have American forces on the Philippines, where they haven't been for many years. The Philippine constitution prevents foreign forces from fighting on their soil, and they're concerned about the role that Americans are going to play in these war games.

WHITFIELD: All right. Very nicely said. Thanks a lot, Jonathan Aiken from the Pentagon.

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