Terror leaders killed in assault
By Stuart Grudgings in Manila
March 15, 2005
From: Reuters News.com.au


Escape ... prisoners flea gas as police storm the jail.
PHILIPPINE police shot dead 17 prisoners as they stormed a jail in Manila today to end a day-long stand-off with a group of Islamic militants who had snatched weapons from guards and killed three of them.
Five police officers were wounded in the assault, Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes said.
"The crisis is over," he said. "The operation is terminated."
Police said they regained control of the prison building about an hour after starting the assault.
Troops outside fired tear gas as teams of police commandos scaled the walls of the four-storey detention centre and overpowered the militants.
At least three leaders of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebel group accused of involvement in high-profile kidnappings of foreigners were among those killed in the assault, police said.
Television reports said 300 policemen had stormed the building, where more than 400 prisoners, including 129 suspected Islamic militants, were detained.
Police said a core group of 10 suspected Abu Sayyaf members had been holding out since killing three guards in an escape attempt on Monday.
Talks with the group broke down late yesterday.
Several loud blasts and gunfire were heard around the police detention centre in a Manila suburb shortly after the expiry of an ultimatum issued by Mr Reyes to the militants.
Tear gas still shrouded the building as television showed hundreds of prisoners milling around on the top floor.
Mr Reyes said Alhamser Limbong, alias 'Kosovo', Ghalib Andang, alias 'Commander Robot', and Najdmi Sabdula, alias 'Commander Global', were among the Abu Sayyaf leaders killed.
Police said earlier the uprising appeared to have been led by Limbong, who was accused of beheading an American hostage after a mass kidnapping from a Philippine beach resort in 2001.
Limbong had also been charged with carrying out an Abu Sayyaf bomb attack on a ferry near Manila last year. At least 116 people died in the attack.
The one-legged Andang and Sabdula were accused of leading the kidnapping of 21 people from Malaysia's Sipadan island in 2000.