Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 21 February 2018

Philippine rebel chief: Marawi attackers plotted 2nd city

President Rodrigo Duterte that the rebels are aware
and military officials have that the government failed
also said that remnants of to enforce peace pacts
the radical groups behind in the past, prompting dis-
the five-month siege that gruntled rebels to form
devastated Marawi were breakaway groups.
hunting for new recruits The rebel leader warned
and plotting new attacks. that restive young Muslims
Duterte mentioned the in the southern Mindanao
threats in a speech late region, homeland of Mus-
Monday in which he criti- lims in the predominantly
cized Canada for impos- Roman Catholic nation,
ing restrictions on the use may be drawn to extrem-
of combat helicopters the ism if the peace efforts fail.
Philippines has sought to As Islamic State group mili-
buy. He has ordered the tants lose bases in the Mid-
military to cancel the pur- dle East, “we will increas-
chase. ingly find them in our midst
"They are about to retake as they seek new strategic
another city in the Philip- grounds where the hold of
pines or to take another government is weak such
geographical unit but I as in Mindanao,” Murad
couldn't use the helicop- said.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim talks to foreign correspondents based ters," Duterte said, explain- Last year, Murad said his
in the Philippines following a forum Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 in Manila, Philippines. The leader of the ing that the Bell helicopters group lost 24 fighters who
largest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines says Islamic State group-aligned militants planned could not be employed in were defending rural com-
but failed to attack one of two other southern cities after their deadly siege to Marawi city was combat assaults. munities from breakaway
crushed last year.
(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Duterte has not elaborat- militants who have aligned
ed on the nature of post- with the Islamic State
By JIM GOMEZ Al Haj Murad Ebrahim of the planned attacks on the Marawi attack threats. group. “We know we can-
Associated Press the Moro Islamic Liberation two cities, which are bus- Murad's group, which not decisively win the war
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Front said the plot to at- tling commercial hubs, to the military estimates has against extremism if we
Islamic State group-linked tack either Iligan or Cota- government forces through about 10,000 fighters scat- cannot win the peace in
militants planned but failed bato city fell apart after the cease-fire channels es- tered mostly in the marshy the halls of Congress,” Mu-
to attack another southern Marawi siege ended, but tablished during years of south, hopes the Philippine rad said.
Philippine city shortly after the extremists have contin- peace talks. He made the Congress will pass legisla- The new Muslim autono-
troops crushed their siege ued to recruit new fighters comments at a forum with tion this year implementing mous zone, which general-
of Marawi last year, the to recover from their battle foreign news correspon- a 2014 autonomy pact with ly covers five poor provinc-
leader of the country's larg- defeats. dents, stressing how his the government. es, is to replace an existing
est Muslim rebel group said Murad said his group re- group has helped battle He said the prospects ap- one that is seen as a dismal
Tuesday. layed intelligence about terrorism. pear bright, but added failure.q

Maldives parliament approves extension of state of emergency

By M. SHARUHAAN release of his imprisoned lawmakers in the 85-mem- should be present in affairs ordered the release of a
Associated Press political opponents, is the ber house voted in favor "requiring compliance by group of Yameen's political
MALE, Maldives (AP) — latest development in a and opposition lawmakers the citizens." The constitu- opponents who had been
Maldives' parliament on political crisis that has en- boycotted the balloting. tion does not specify such imprisoned after convic-
Tuesday approved a 30- gulfed the Indian Ocean The opposition said later instances. tions criticized for alleged
day extension of a state of archipelago nation for that the emergency exten- The two-week state of due process violations.
emergency declared by weeks. The regulations sion was illegal because emergency declared by Regional power India said
the president to strengthen give wide powers to secu- there was no constitution- President Yameen Abdul in a statement earlier Tues-
his power, ignoring a plea rity forces to detain people ally required quorum in Par- Gayoom was to expire day that it expects that "the
from regional power India and curtail freedom to pro- liament. According to the Tuesday evening, and he government of Maldives will
not to extend it. test. constitution, one fourth of had asked the legislature not be seeking extension of
The extension of the emer- The speaker of parlia- the members are required to extend it by 30 days. the state of emergency so
gency, first declared ear- ment, Abdulla Maseeh, an- for an ordinary vote to be The Maldives has been in that the political process in
lier this month after the Su- nounced that the motion taken and at least half the political turmoil since Feb.1 Maldives can resume with
preme Court ordered the passed after 38 ruling party number of the members when the Supreme Court immediate effect."q