By DPA
Manila : The Philippines military said Monday it has weakened Al Qaeda-linked Muslim militants in the country’s troubled south in intensified offensives against them in 2007.
According to the armed forces’ year-end report, the number of Abu Sayyaf rebels has declined to 379 at the end of the year, down 16 percent from 452 in 2006.
The report said 144 Abu Sayyaf rebels were “neutralized” in 2007, 57 of whom were killed, 75 captured and two surrendered.
The slain guerrillas included the group’s second-in-command, Jainal Sali alias Abu Solaiman, one of the Abu Sayyaf commanders wanted by the US.
Sali was killed after army special forces assaulted a rebel camp on Jolo island, 1,000 km south of Manila, in January.
The Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to Al Qaeda and other foreign militant groups, has been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines.
The group has also been responsible for high-profile kidnappings of foreigners.