<HTML>From today's <a href="[
www.iol.co.za">http];:
Philippine rebels reject 'jihad' against US
September 16 2001 at 10:51AM
Manila - Muslim separatist rebels in the Philippines rejected calls for a "holy war" against the United States and its allies, a spokesman for the Islamic guerrilla group, the country's largest, said on Sunday.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had noted a call by the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan for a "jihad" should US forces attack that country in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said.
"We are not responding to that call. It is not justifiable as... Jihad is launched only when there is indiscriminate persecution of Muslims, and we don't see it right now," he told reporters.
The 12 500-member MILF has denounced the hijacking of four US planes used as guided missiles that targeted the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing an estimated 5 000 people.
"We are just focusing on the issues in Mindanao," Kabalu said, referring to the southern third of the Philippines where a Muslim rebellion was launched in the 1970s.
The group is holding peace talks with President Gloria Arroyo's government and observing a ceasefire.
A second Filipino Muslim rebel group, the Abu Sayyaf, holds 18 hostages including two US Christian missionaries and is believed to have links with Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, the main suspect in the US attacks.
The Taliban has rejected US calls for the Saudi-born Bin Laden's expulsion from Afghanistan.
Arroyo has pledged full support to the US government's campaign against global terrorism. - Sapa-AFP</HTML>
