Army captures Abu Sayyaf leader

Tawi-Tawi: The army has captured a suspected leader of a local terror group in the southern Philippines, officials told Gulf News.

The suspected Abu Sayyaf leader was captured in Lamyon, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi a week ago, said sources from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police who requested anonymity.

The Abu Sayyaf leader has a "hefty prize" on his head, said the officials who refused to identify the leader.

Troopers are still pursuing three more Abu Sayyaf men believed to be hiding in the island province of Tawi-Tawi, said the officials.

The arrested leader and those who are being pursued are on the "most wanted" list of terrorists, said the officials.

Foreign terrorists

The United States and the European Union have included the Abu Sayyaf on the list of foreign terrorists.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be hiding three members of the Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian conduit of the Al Qaida terror network.

Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani, JI members Dulmatin and Umar Patek and some other foreign terrorists were the target of a military operation in the jungles of Sulu since August 1. The US State department has offered $10 million (Dh36.7 million) for the arrest of Dulmatin, $1 million (Dh3.67 million) for Janjalani, and $1 million for Patek.