Philippine President Says Abu Sayyaf Spokesman Killed Or Wounded

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, June 21, 2002

Philippine President Says Abu Sayyaf Spokesman Killed Or Wounded

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Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday announced that Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya was believed to have been killed or wounded in a clash earlier in the day with government troops in the southern provinceof Zamboanga del Norte.

Arroyo told reporters in an unscheduled press conference in thenorthern province of La Union that captured Abu Sayyaf members confirmed that Abu Sabaya jumped into the sea from their boat during the encounter with government troops.

Arroyo said Abu Sabaya was said to be wearing a black sweatshirt and soldiers confirmed shooting the man in the black sweatshirt.

"Government forces are now scouring the coast for Sabaya or hisbody," she added.

An initial field report said joint components of Navy and Marine encountered seven Abu Sayyaf members around 4:20 a.m. Friday (GMT 2020 Thursday) off the coast of Zamboanga del Norte.

A brief firefight resulted in the killing of three and the capture of four Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Abu Sabaya, whose true name is Adlam Tilao, carries 1 million U.S. dollars of bounty set by the U.S. government. Known for his tinted glasses and swaggering stance, he is the most high profile and hated among leaders of the bandit group.

News of his capture or death is the biggest breakthrough in thegovernment's protracted war against the bandit group behind a string of kidnappings of dozens of Filipinos and foreign tourists.

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