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| Southeast Asia |
| Janjalaniâs gang attacked, one snuffy dead |
| 2004-07-08 |
| Soldiers again failed to capture elusive Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafi Janjalani, but killed his follower as the government and the terrorist groupâs forces clashed early this week in Palembang town in Sultan Kudarat province. Col. Edgardo Guera, commander of Armyâs 601st Infantry Brigade, said Bayan Binago died of multiple bullet wounds in his body during the encounter. The soldiers were on a two-day operation that started on Monday in the outskirts of the municipality. Guera said Binago was a member of Abu Sofia gang, a small group of armed men engaged in kidnapping that joined the Abu Sayyaf last year. Guera said operatives of the 11th Special Forces Company were scouring an area in Palembang when they chanced upon Janjalani, along with 15 other men. No one was reported injured or killed in the government side during the operation. âOur operation forms part of the governmentâs effort to neutralize his [Janjalaniâs] group,â Guera said. Janjalani, who carries a $5-million bounty for his arrest, was sighted on the border of Palembang, along with 80 followers last year. The jungles of Palembang are known to be controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |