A new separatist leader has emerged, but he is older than Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Hashim Selamat, said a local paper.

His newly organised group, the Bangsamoro Republic, and the Spider, its military urban squad, will start operating at the start of the U.S.-Philippine war games in southern Philippines in mid-February.

The leader of the Bangsamoro Republic is Sultan Mohammad H. Adil, based in Cotabato City, southern Philippines. He is suspected of organising and heading the intelligence section of the Spider unit, a member told Manila Times in an exclusive interview.

Adil was the original leader of the Mindanao Independence Movement and its armed component, the Black Shirts.

Mindanao Independence Movement preceded Misuari and Selamat and was the first group to rise up in arms against the Philippine government, said Times' source, Kumander Alex.

The Bangsamoro Republic is the umbrella organisation of separatists. The Spider is the group's urban squad. It is currently headed by two Afghan-trained Indonesian terrorists, police and military sources said.

MNLF and MILF fighters have been deployed to the Spider units. Jolo-based Irashan Makddin, also trained in Afghanistan, is one of the MNLF men involved in the Spider.

Spider's mission includes bombing and assassination activities in key major cities, in protest of the American presence in Mindanao. The group's targets include the cities of Davao, Cebu, Baguio, Angeles and Metro Manila."We have confirmed the plot," a senior defence intelligence officer said.

"We are the true mujahideen of the Bangsamoro people. Even the MILF and the MNLF recognise that," said Alex. When asked how the group compares with the Abu Sayyaf, the source said the Abu Sayyaf are un-Islamic and "radical misfits".

"They are on their way out. We are here to stay," Alex said. Southern Command spokesman, Capt. Noel Detoyato said the MNLF faction loyal to Misuari is composed only of 70 people, and led by Julhambri Misuari, nephew of the detained Muslim leader.

But sources said Misuari still commands the loyalty of thousands of armed Muslim men in his hometown in Jolo.

About 20,000 fighters converged on Jolo for an MNLF conference shortly before Misuari's men attacked a military detachment in Jolo last November 19, and the Air Force headquarters in Zamboanga City last November 27.