Arroyo welcomes militant killing

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has congratulated security forces for the shooting dead of the country's most wanted armed militant suspect, Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi.

She said his death "signals that terrorists will never get far in the Philippines".

FATHUR ROHMAN AL-GHOZI Convicted in April of possessing explosives and falsifying travel papers Escaped from prison in July Member of militant group JI Shot dead on 12 October Profile of al-Ghozi

The Indonesian member of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), and one of Asia's most wanted men, was on the run after escaping from a high-security jail in Manila in July.

The Philippine military said he died in a gun battle on the southern island of Mindanao - although local officials and residents dispute the government's version of events.

"This event should lift much of the anxieties of our people," said President Arroyo in a statement.

"I would like to commend all military and police forces involved," she said.

A huge national manhunt was launched after al-Ghozi escaped while serving a 17-year sentence for illegal possession of explosives and falsifying travel papers.

Correspondents said his escape was seen as a major embarrassment for the Philippines' anti-terrorism credentials, as well as a threat to security across the region.

'Unconfirmed'

Philippine police chief Hermogenes Ebdane confirmed radio reports that al-Ghozi was killed after he and another man began firing at police when their vehicle was stopped near the town of Pigcawayan in North Cotabato province.

Mr Ebdane said fingerprints confirmed the body was al-Ghozi. He was flying from Manila to view the body.

However, the governor of the province told radio he could not confirm the death as his officers had seen no evidence of a gunfight although residents reported hearing two shots fired.

"We were informed by residents about a shooting incident in Pigcawayan town but when we arrived there, we did not see indications of any gun battle," said Senior Inspector Raulito Suyom.

Al-Ghozi - who admitted being a member of JI, blamed for last year's Bali bombing and suspected of having links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network - was accused of masterminding bombings that killed more than 20 people in Manila in December 2000.

He escaped from the Manila police headquarters with two suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group.

The Philippines authorities believed the escape was an inside job and offered $150,000 in rewards for information leading to the recapture of the three men.

Al-Ghozi's reported death comes just ahead of a visit to the Philippines by US President George W Bush.

It also comes as another suspected member of JI was jailed for 20 years in Indonesia, for his part in bombing the home of the Philippine ambassador in Jakarta three years ago.

The judge at the trial said that the man, Abdul Jabar, had conspired with others to blow up a car filled with explosives, killing two people. The ambassador was seriously injured.

Abdul Jabar was also found guilty of involvement in a series of deadly attacks against Christian churches in Indonesia later the same year