A team of 25 U.S.-based counter-terrorism and explosives disposal experts arrived in Manila to participate in the U.S.-Philippine joint military exercise to be held in central Luzon.

The team will train Filipino soldiers in preventing kidnapping and terrorism in the country, but Presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao said this has no connection with the military's effort to attack the Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippines's Basilan and Sulu.

The exercise, involving 1,200 American soldiers and 1,175 Filipino soldiers, formally opened yesterday morning. It will run until June 11. Earlier, various groups reacted to the government's acceptance of U.S. assistance in handling the Abu Sayyaf group which abducted 20 tourists at Dos Palmas Hotel in Palawan, southwestern Philippines, on May 27, and 10 other fishermen in Mapun island, Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi on May 28.

Senators said the U.S. assistance should be limited to information gathering and the use of high technology in tracking down the Abu Sayyaf group at night in the wild terrain of their lair in Basilan and Jolo.

The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped two American missionaries and one American tourist, including 17 Filipinos from Dos Palmas in Palawan on May 27. The U.S. assistance was extended when President Gloria Arroyo ruled out negotiations with the group, for ransom payment and other demands.

She also called for a news black-out in the coverage of the hostage crisis, and a $4 million bounty for the Abu Sayyaf leaders.