Thousands flee as soldiers pursue MILF rebels

ZAMBOANGA - An estimated 18,000 people have fled their homes as the military stepped up a major offensive Tuesday against Moro rebels in Mindanao, an official said.

The fighting raged as U.S. President George W. Bush announced Monday he planned to designate the Philippines a full U.S. military ally after talks in the White House with President Arroyo.

Armed forces spokesman Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia said government forces have flushed out about 300 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who had occupied the town of Munai in Lanao del Norte province.

The rebels and several leaders of the MILF, the country's biggest Muslim separatist group, were believed to have fled to surrounding hinterland areas following the military offensive launched Saturday.

"Our troops however are continuing pursuit operations against the said leaders" now believed hiding in Mount Gurain near Munai town, Garcia told reporters. He said the operations were hampered by bad weather.

Asked how many had been displaced by the fighting, he said: "Around 18,000 heads. Fighting is still ongoing and they are evacuated in towns in Lanao del Sur."

The military claimed to have killed at least 60 MILF rebels in the first wave of assault up to Monday.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu acknowledged the group faced military bombardments but denied sustaining heavy casualties. He said there have been no major ground engagements yet.

"We don't have casualties," Kabalu told AFP by phone from his base in Mindanao.

Garcia said the military was trying to clear the grounds after reports showed the rebels had left behind anti-personnel mines.

Military offensives were also continuing in other areas of the main southern island of Mindanao against the MILF, which the military has linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror network blamed for the deadly Bali bombings last year.

The JI is believed to be the Southeast Asian arm of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

MILF guerrillas have also been blamed for a wave of bombings and raids that have claimed nearly 100 lives in the south since March.

Kabalu again rejected Tuesday government claims the MILF was linked to the JI terror organization. "We are not engaged in terrorism or terrorist activities."

President Arroyo before departing for the United States Saturday gave the military the green light to conduct "selective aerial and artillery attacks to dislodge embedded terrorist cells" in the south.

President Bush on Monday said he planned to designate the Philippines a major "non-NATO ally" and praised Arroyo for her unflinching support to the US-led global war on terrorism.

This would enable the Philippines, a former US colony, to have greater access to surplus military equipment on a priority basis, obtain US military loans and benefit from training and research and development cooperation.

Small groups of US trainers have been deployed to the south since 2001 to help the military crush the Abu Sayyaf, a ruthless Muslim gang responsible for the kidnapping and murder of US citizens.