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CNN Saturday Morning News

Campaign Against Terrorism Will Focus on Philippines

Aired January 19, 2002 - 09:11   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: The campaign to root out terrorism around the world is focusing next on the Philippines. Hundreds of U.S. troops are heading there soon to train Filipino forces in their battle against extremists, some of whom may be linked to al Qaeda.

CNN's Maria Ressa reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Philippine authorities say this man, 30-year-old Indonesian Fatur Raman al-Gozi (ph), is one of the key leaders of an al Qaeda-linked terrorist cell operating in Southeast Asia.

Last month, Singapore arrested more than a dozen members of Jama Islamia (ph), a group which allegedly targets American interests. Al- Gozi is known and wanted by Singapore authorities as Mike the Bomb Maker. He is also an explosives trader with the Moral Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, the Philippines' largest Muslim separatist group.

His arrest led authorities to the arrests to three more men, one an MILF commander, and the recovery of one ton of explosives and weapons, which police here say were slated for targets in Southeast Asia.

About 660 U.S. troops are expected in the Philippines in the coming weeks to begin war games with their Filipino counterparts. Their target, the al Qaeda-liked Abu Sayyaf, operating in the seas between the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Authorities here say they are still searching for two Indonesian nationals and that they are working closely with other nations in the region to stop terrorism.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Manila.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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