Residents called for the presence of American soldiers side by side with Filipino soldiers who were tasked to look for the Abu Sayyaf members and rescue their Filipino and two American hostages, said two local government officials who sounded out the sentiments of the people in Tuburan, Basilan, southern Philippines.

In a consultation forum, Tuburan Mayor, Lurie Kalyala, said many residents believe the anti-terrorist campaign of the government will be more effective if the American soldiers personally take part in the actual operations against the bandits.

Critics believe that the American troops who are armed with live bullets and are allowed to shoot in retaliation if attacked, are deployed for actual combat in the war zones between the Filipino soldiers and the Abu Sayyaf rebels in Basilan.

The U.S. and Philippine governments said the 660 American soldiers (160 of whom are in Basilan) were tasked with training their counterparts in the use of high technology war material.

Many said the U.S. presence in Basilan is meant to stop the Abu Sayyaf group from escalating terrorist activities.

Suspected Abu Sayyaf Group bandits killed Ali Sapaag, 35, and wounded three others, identified as Tanggay Muksan, Indris Irayat and Murphy Mayri, during an ambush on a motorised outrigger in Linungan Island, Tuburan, Basilan, Saturday morning, the military said.

Al Jacinto, Our Zamboanga Correspondent adds: Policemen rushed to Mindpro Mall in Zamboanga port city after they received reports of bomb threats, a local radio station said.

An unnamed telephone caller told Zamboanga City Vice-Mayor, Erbie Fabian, that a bomb had been planted inside the Mindpro Mall at the main business district here, said radio station dxRZ.

At the same time, another unidentified caller also phoned the central police headquarters and gave the same warning that a bomb would explode inside the mall, the radio report added. The threats were a hoax, the police said, after a team of anti-bomb experts failed to find bombs in the mall.

Police and military stepped up security in Zamboanga City following the series of bomb attacks since last year, believed to have been carried out by the Abu Sayyaf, whose group is believed to have links with the Al Qaida network of Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.

Five people were wounded last month when a grenade exploded inside one of three movie halls at Mindpro Mall. Ten people were killed and 56 were wounded when a bomb exploded at the Puericulture Centre, an open hub for eateries in front of Mindpro Mall last November.