| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| 20 wounded in Jolo mosque shooting |
| 2006-01-29 |
| TWENTY people were wounded when two gunmen on a motorcycle fired at a crowd leaving a mosque on the southern Philippines island of Jolo, an army general and witnesses said today. Brigadier-General Alexander Aleo, the army commander on the island, said people were coming out from the main mosque after the evening prayers when two gunmen opened fire at them yesterday. "We're still trying to establish the motive for the drive-by shooting," Brig-Gen Aleo told reporters. "We've counted at least 10 people wounded in the incident, the first attack on a place of worship on the island." But, witnesses at the scene told reporters about 20 people were hit by the indiscriminate firing. Dozens were also hurt by a near stampede as people scampered for safety after the first burst of gunfire. "We were shocked," said Amirah Lidasan, a leader of a Muslim activist group Suara Bangsamoro. She said there were suspicions that soldiers could be behind the shooting to avenge the death of a Marine sergeant two weeks ago near the mosque. "Pointing to the soldiers as culprit in the attack were mere allegations," Brig-Gen Aleo said, adding the reports could be part of efforts to discredit the annual war games with US troops in Muslim communities on Jolo next month. The Philippines, fighting protracted rebellions by communist rebels and Muslim separatists, has cemented its close security alliance with the United States with the annual "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) war games. The drills on Jolo, a stronghold of al-Qaeda-linked Muslim militants, were the first to be held on the island, site of the worst fighting last year that killed about 100 rebels. "They will actually take part in non-combat activities," Brig-Gen Aleo said, adding that 250 US troops would provide medical and dental services and repair roads and school buildings. Last week, the military struck a truce with one of four Muslim rebel forces on Jolo after the government agreed to allow the group's jailed leader, Nur Misuari, to undergo a 10-day medical checkup in a hospital in Manila. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 Damn, I was wrong! I was certain it would happen at the market. Let hope GMA does not call Balikatan off in political fear. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-01-29 19:49 |