US troops join battle against Abu Sayyaf

The United States is sending 650 soldiers to the southern Philippines, where the military is fighting the Muslim militant Abu Sayyaf group.

Philippine Government officials said the American troops will not be directly involved in the fight, but some will enter combat zones.

They would be allowed to fire back if attacked, but would not carry out covert operations under cover of military exercises.

An initial group of American advisors is already in Zamboanga, and the remainder will start arriving on Tuesday.

Correspondents say the exercise in the southern Philippines, which will last six months, signifies an increasing American involvement in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas.

The group has been linked to Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network. It is holding three hostages, including an American missionary couple.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service