Philippines steps up rebel crackdown

The army has not managed to track down the hostages

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered a new crackdown against Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels holding about 20 US and Filipino hostages on the southern island of Basilan.

The president said she had given the military and the police wide powers of arrest, allowing them to seize suspected rebel sympathisers and supplies believed to be going to the group.

We expect these measures will help hasten the destruction of the terrorists' groups

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo

"At midnight last night, I ordered an intensified crackdown against the Abu Sayyaf," she said.

The Abu Sayyaf is fighting for an independent Muslim state, but the government dismisses them as criminals without any ideology.

More than 5,000 soldiers are now on the rebel stronghold of Basilan in a seven-week-old effort to rescue a group of hostages, including US missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham.

Last month the rebels said they had beheaded a third American, Californian tourist Guillermo Sobero, but no body has been found.

Arrests

Ms Arroyo said the measures she ordered included operations to identify and arrest Abu Sayyaf rebels and to confiscate equipment and supplies which she said were coming from supporters.

President Arroyo calls the rebels "terrorists"

"As a result of my instructions, formally given at 12 midnight last night, as of 11:30 this morning, our forces arrested 32 Abu Sayyaf (rebels)," she said.

"We expect these measures will help hasten the destruction of the terrorists' groups and we expect more arrests to be effected during the next few days."

Earlier, the president's adviser Jesus Dureza said soldiers were arresting members of the public as well as suspected rebels

"We are detaining all the people in Basilan who are suspected of being an Abu Sayyaf member or those who are supporting the terrorist group," said Mr Dureza.

Ms Arroyo denied suggestions that the move was ordered to coincide with the visit of US Admiral Dennis Blair, Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Command, who is in the capital for annual defence talks.

At a separate news conference, Philippine armed forces Chief of Staff Diomedio Villanueva said US forces were not involved in the operation in the south.

"The Philippines have the clear lead of responsibility with this operation," he said.

Admiral Blair, attending the same news conference said: "We hope that our hostages are safe and alive, including Mr Sobero as well as the Burnhams, that is the American concern."