US begins training Philippine army

The US military has begun training the Philippine army as part of George W Bush’s so-called "war on terrorism".

The US will help the Philippine Government in its ongoing war with the Abu Sayyaf rebel group, which is fighting for independence in the mainly-Muslim southern Philippines. Around 100 US soldiers are already in the town of Zamboanga, on Basilan island, where the rebels are based. Another 500 US troops, including special forces, are due to join them in the coming weeks.

The US Government has claimed that the Abu Sayyaf rebels have links to Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network, which is accused of masterminding the attacks in New York and Washington last September. Robert Fitts, the US charge d’affaires in the Philippines, said the US will "help eliminate the terrorist parasites who threaten Filipinos as well as the United States".

Opposition politicians have severely criticised the US mission, saying it violates a section of the Philippine Constitution which bans foreign combat troops from sovereign soil.

However, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has promised that the US soldiers will not engage militarily with the Abu Sayyaf and will only train Philippine troops. Filipino army officers have contradicted her statements, though, saying some US special forces may accompany the Philippine army into combat zones. The US soldiers have been authorised to shoot in self-defence.

The Abu Sayyaf, which is active on the southern Basilan and Jolo islands, is believed to have around 800 members.