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Southeast Asia
$3.6m reward for 3 Filipino militants
2009-05-28
[Straits Times] THE United States on Tuesday offered up to US$2.5 million (S$3.6 million) in rewards for tips leading to the capture of three Filipinos suspected of belonging to the 'terrorist' Abu Sayyaf group.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly announced a reward of up to US$1 million for information leading to the 'location, arrest and/or conviction' of suspect Radullan Sahiron, described as a senior leader of the group.
I thought he was dead? Or was that wishful thinking?
He also announced a prize of up to US$1 million for Abdul Basit Usman, an alleged bomb maker, and another of up to US$500,000 for Khair Mundos, an alleged leader and financier of the group.

Sahiron was listed as a key prize. 'Many innocent men, women and children have been killed or seriously injured as a result of Sahiron's actions,' the statement from Mr Kelly said. 'Sahiron played a role in the May 2001 Dos Palmas kidnapping of three US citizens and 17 Filipinos from a tourist resort in Palawan, Philippines,' it added. US citizen Guillermo Sobero and other hostages were murdered, it said. The statement accused Sahiron of continuing 'to plot terror schemes' that affect communities in the southern island of Mindanao. 'US authorities consider Sahiron to be a threat to US and Filipino citizens and interests,' the statement said.

Basit, meanwhile, 'is a bomb-making expert with links to the Jemaah Islamiah and Abu Sayyaf Group' and poses a threat to US and Filipino citizens and interests over his links to these groups Washington considers terrorist. 'He is believed to have orchestrated several bombings that have killed, injured, and maimed many innocent civilians,' the spokesman said.

The statement said Mundos, who remains at large following a prison escape in 2007, was arrested in May 2004 'on the first-ever money laundering charges against terrorists' after a probe by US and Philippine officials.

Mundos confessed to 'having arranged the transfer of funds' from Al-Qaeda to Abu Sayyaf Group leader Khadaffy Janjalani for bombings and other crimes on Mindanao, it said. He is also considered a threat to US and Filipino citizens and interests.

Those with information on the location of the three suspects - who are all believed to be hiding on Mindanao - are urged to contact the nearest US embassy or consulate or any US official or military commander, it said.
Posted by:Fred

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