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U.S. Indicts 5 Tied to Filipino Terrorist Group
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
(2:31 PM ET)
The Associated Press

The Abu Sayyaf band has terrorized the southern Philippines with a string of kidnappings in May 2001. Some of their hostages were killed, others escaped and the rest were freed, reportedly for large ransoms.

WASHINGTON -- AP
The Justice Department announced indictments Tuesday against five alleged leaders of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf for a kidnapping spree that led to the death of an American missionary and several others in the Philippines. "The United States sends a signal: We will work to track down and prosecute all those who commit barbaric acts of terrorism here at home and abroad," said Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson.

None of the five indicted men is in custody, Thompson said.

President Bush dispatched more than 1,000 U.S. troops to the Philippines this year to help that nation's armed forces deal with Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, who the Americans say are affiliated with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network.

The federal indictments identified the five as Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani, spiritual leader of the group; Isnilon Totoni Hapilon, the second in command; Aldam Tilao, spokesman; Jainal Antel Sali Jr., an intelligence officer; and Hamsiraji Marusi Sali, a group leader.
(More: USA TODAY, World Online News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan