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CNN Saturday Morning News

Philippine Army Attacks Muslim Rebels

Aired June 02, 2001 - 09:12   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the Philippines today, intense street fighting erupts as the army launches attacks against Muslim rebels holding some hostages. A few captives reportedly have escaped in the chaos.

CNN's Mike Chinoy live on the phone now from manila with the latest. Hello, Mike.

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.

Well, there's been fighting all day in the southern Philippine island of Basilon (ph). That's where about 40 to 60 members of the Abu Sayyaf group of Muslim extremists, widely seen by many analysts and officials here as bandits or just outright criminals, took over a hospital, and they've been engaged in exchanges of fire with the Philippine army.

The Abu Sayyaf earlier in the week abducted 20 tourists from a beachside resort, including three Americans. The latest information we have is that all or most of that group were with the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas when they entered the hospital, apparently seeking medical treatment for some of their comrades wounded in an exchange on Friday of fire with the Philippine armed forces.

The armed forces had surrounded the hospital during the fighting on Saturday, Philippines time. Four hostages, three adults and a child, were able to escape. One of those hostages was later quoted as saying that as far as he could tell, the entire group, including the Americans who'd been abducted earlier in the week, were still in the hospital compound.

Within the last couple of hours, there are reports that more of these Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerrillas have emerged from the surrounding forest to mount a counterattack. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was on television a few moments ago saying that that counterattack had failed to break through the army's cordon around the hospital compound.

She did announce that one of the leading figures of the Abu Sayyaf had been killed in the fighting, along with several soldiers.

So the exchanges of fire continue, the government insisting that it is not prepared to negotiate or pay ransom for the release of any of these hostages. It's taking a tough line, urging the Abu Sayyaf to surrender or face continued pressure from the Philippine armed forces.

At this point, we have no firm word on the whereabouts or well- being of the three Americans who are among the hostages. In addition to the 20 seized earlier in the week, there are reports that anywhere from 10 or 20 hospital workers are also being held in addition as the shooting continues -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Mike, remind us about the stated goals of this rebel group. What are they after?

CHINOY: Well, this is -- the -- they -- they're called Islamic rebels, and they are a part of an effort that has gone on for many years in the southern Philippines, which is predominantly Muslim, for greater autonomy or independence. However, other Islamic rebel groups have -- in the area have disavowed the Abu Sayyaf, and diplomats with whom I was speaking earlier say that this in fact is really a group of bandits.

Last year, they held several hostages, including some Europeans, and released them only after the payment of millions of dollars in ransom. Officials say that that money went to buy high-powered speedboats and more sophisticated weapons, which enabled the group to stage this raid on another island earlier in the week, and seize the 20 holiday makers there.

So the Abu Sayyaf packs a certain amount of military clout, but for all the talk describing them as Islamic guerrillas, they're widely really seen as bandits and hostage takers more than having any kind of meaningful political goal -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much, appreciate that insight. That's CNN's Mike Chinoy in Manila.

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