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WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush on Friday commended
Philippine President Arroyo for a crackdown on the al-Qaeda-linked
militant group Abu Sayyaf, the White House said.
Bush telephoned Mrs. Arroyo
“this morning to thank her for the strong support in the global
war on terror,” said US National Security Council spokesman Gordon
Johndroe.
“The President commended
President Arroyo for their recent action against the Abu Sayyaf
group,” said Johndroe.
US-backed Philippine special
forces vowed Friday to hunt down remaining leaders of Abu Sayyaf
after the deaths of its two top commanders, with a key commander
vowing to “neutralize them, finish them off.”
The Philippine military scored a
major victory in killing chief planner Abu Solaiman this month and
then confirming through DNA tests that leader Khadaffy Janjalani
died in a clash with troops four months ago.
However, remnants of the Muslim
militant group and sleeper cells are still able to organize terror
attacks and pose a threat to the country, analysts say.
--AFP
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