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Philippines says most wanted militant may be dead

28 Dec 2006 01:05:36 GMT
Source: Reuters

MANILA, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The most wanted man in the Philippines, the head of a group of Islamic militants linked to al Qaeda, may have been killed in a firefight with troops some months ago, officials and a newspaper said on Thursday.

Troops on the southern island of Jolo have found a decomposing body they believe could be of Khaddafy Janjalani, chief of the Abu Sayyaf group, Marine spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ariel Caculitan told reporters.

"He was reportedly killed in an encounter with Marines on September 4 ... however, authorities are taking the help of forensic experts and would not officially confirm the report without a DNA examination," Caculitan said.

"There is still no confirmation if the body indeed is of Janjalani. While there is a big possibility that it is him, there is still the element of mistake."

The body was recovered form a makeshift grave on Wednesday after information provided by arrested Abu Sayyaf members, the spokesman said.

U.S. authorities have placed a bounty of $5 million for the capture of Janjalani for the kidnap and murder of a U.S. citizen in 2002.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer said a team from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation was helping in forensic tests on the body.

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Last updated:Thu Dec 28 01:06:28 2006