Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

A11
WORLD NEWS Monday 15 april 2019

Philippines: US DNA tests confirm death of IS-linked leader

By JIM GOMEZ groups in the country,” Ano
Associated Press said, using an acronym of
MANILA, Philippines (AP) the Islamic State group.
— U.S. DNA tests have con- Ano was the former mili-
firmed the death of a Mus- tary chief who supervised
lim militant commander the U.S.- and Australian-
who helped lead the 2017 backed offensive to crush
siege of a city in the south- the siege of Marawi, which
ern Philippines and was sparked fears that the Is-
considered a key leader lamic State group was ad-
of the Islamic State group vancing its efforts to estab-
in the region, officials said lish a foothold in the region.
Sunday. Marohombsar’s killing will
Interior Secretary Edu- make it harder for the Is-
ardo Ano said the tests lamic State group to estab-
confirmed that Owaida lish a firm presence in the
Marohombsar, who was country’s south, Ano said.
also known by his nom de The southern Philippines is
guerre Abu Dar, was one the homeland of the large-
of four militants killed in a ly Roman Catholic nation’s
March 14 gunbattle that minority Muslims and the
also left four soldiers dead scene of decades-old Mus-
near southern Tubaran lim separatist unrest.
town in Lanao del Sur prov- “For now, his group is lead-
ince. The Philippine military In this Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 file photo, Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Eduardo Ano gestures erless. We are monitor-
asked U.S. authorities to prior to the start of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Clark, Pampanga province north of ing who will replace Dar,”
confirm Marohombsar’s Manila, Philippines. Defense Secretary Delfin
death through DNA tests. Associated Press Lorenzana told reporters.
Marohombsar helped lead the mosque-studded city’s authorities feared he could lion pesos ($566,000) in sto- A Philippine army brigade
the May 23, 2017, siege commercial and residential use to rebuild the militant’s len money. commander, Brig. Gen. Ro-
of Marawi, which troops districts. battered organization and But troops hunted the ex- meo Brawner, said troops
quelled after five months Most leaders of the attack plot new attacks. One re- tremist leader and his men would pursue the rest of
of ground assaults and air- were killed, but Marohomb- gional official, Zia Adiong, down across Lanao. Marohombsar’s remaining
strikes that left more than sar survived with a large said at the time that Ma- “This is another milestone in fighters, mostly based in
1,100 people, mostly mili- amount of looted cash and rohombsar escaped from our campaign to finish and Lanao’s hinterlands, not far
tants, dead and destroyed jewelry from Marawi that Marawi with at least 30 mil- defeat ISIS and local terror from Marawi.q

Japan’s PM visits Fukushima nuke plant in revival message

Associated Press mark appearing to belittle recon- called J-Village, which temporar-
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime struction in northeastern Japan. ily served as a place for workers
Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday vis- “Our basic policy is that every dealing with the plant accident.
ited the Fukushima nuclear plant, minister is a reconstruction minis- A giant tsunami in March 2011 set
which sank into meltdowns after a ter,” Abe said during his visit. “We off meltdowns at three of Fukushi-
tsunami eight years ago, in an ef- reaffirmed our commitment to ma Dai-ichi’s reactors, the worst
fort to highlight revival and safety work for the revival of Fukushima nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
as the nation prepares to host the and northeastern Japan.” As many as 160,000 people evac-
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo 2020 Olympics. Abe wore a business suit as he was uated the area, although some
Abe speaks to the media after Abe The visit by Abe, who last went to shown around the plant — a con- have since returned.
visited Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant five trast to the special head-to-toe Earlier Sunday, Abe visited Oku-
power plant in Okuma, Fukushima years ago, was seen as damage suit and mask visitors had to wear ma, one of two towns that house
prefecture, Japan, Sunday, April 14, control after Yoshitaka Sakurada, five years ago, reflecting progress the plant, where an evacuation
2019. a ruling party minister overseeing with the cleanup. order was partially lifted earlier this
Associated Press the Olympics, resigned for a re- He also visited a soccer facility month.q