THE PHILIPPINES: The President of the Philippines, Ms Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said one of the country's most wanted Muslim rebels, the key man in last year's kidnapping of a US missionary couple, was killed in a clash with government troops yesterday.
"Gen Ernesto Carolina, whom we had appointed South Commander, made sure to me that Abu Sabaya was hit and is now dead. They are now looking for his body. He was seen to have fallen into the water and drowned," she said in a statement from the presidential palace.
Ms Arroyo's statement came after Abu Sayyaf rebels in a motorised dinghy clashed with navy special forces near the coast of the southern Zamboanga peninsula in the early hours yesterday.
Three rebels, including Mr Sabaya (39), were killed in the clash, military officials said. No government troops were killed or wounded, they added.