US commander visits Philippines

Admiral Blair was checking on progress

A top US military official has been visiting the southern Philippines, where US troops are training local soldiers to fight rebels.

Pacific forces commander Admiral Dennis Blair arrived hours after 18 Abu Sayyaf rebels on the island of Basilan surrendered - the largest such surrender this year.

There have been regular anti-US protests in Manila

It also came amid speculation that US officials have been brokering a deal with the rebels for the release of two US hostages in exchange for a ransom.

Officials in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, last week told news agencies that an abortive ransom payment of $300,000 was made late last month and that negotiations were continuing.

The Philippines Government has denied any such negotiations, however, and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is said to be bitterly against any deal with the rebels.

The hostages, US missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, from Wichita, Kansas, were snatched from a luxury hotel resort last May. They are being held somewhere in the Basilan jungles along with Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap.

Violence

The Abu Sayyaf group says it is fighting for a separate Muslim state, but their main activity has been kidnapping for ransom. The US has linked the group with the al-Qaeda network blamed for the 11 September attacks on the US.

The Burnhams are being held somewhere in the jungle

Since January, 660 US troops, including about 160 special forces, have been deployed in the southern Philippines. They are barred from taking part in combat but can defend themselves if attacked.

There have been frequent protest rallies over the US presence, which critics say infringes national sovereignty.

At least four people were injured in a scuffle between police and protesters outside the US embassy in Manila on Monday. Police beat back protesters from the embassy gates and at least two people were taken into custody.

Security was tight in the southern city of Zamboanga as Admiral Blair arrived. He then flew by helicopter to Basilan, where he was briefed on the progress of the training mission and visited US personnel and facilities.

The joint military exercises are due to end in July, but the US is expected to make a formal request to extend them.

In her weekly radio address, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said she welcomed more US deployments, saying local communities appreciated the civic assistance.

"This is something that is being discussed with the forces who are there," she said.