Militants flee Philippines jail

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3616091.stm

Philippines officials say that security forces have killed at least seven prisoners after a mass escape from a jail in the south of the country.

At least 53 inmates of the jail on Basilan island broke out using smuggled firearms.

Some prisoners were recaptured during a firefight in which the seven were killed.

The fugitives include members of Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant group which the US says has ties to al-Qaeda.

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1. Abu Sayyaf members escape

Zamboanga, Philippines - Around 53 prisoners including many suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf escaped from jail in the southern Philippines on Saturday, officials said.

Three of the escaped prisoners were later killed and three others have since been recaptured, while three jail guards were wounded in the incident on the island of Basilan, said jail warden Ajilmaril Sali.

Sali said they still did not have a full headcount of those who escaped, but local army commander Colonel Raymundo Ferrer said 53 of the 137 prisoners in the jail on the outskirts of Isabela Cityhad had broken out.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1510683,00.html

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2. There was a similar prison break in the Philippines a month ago

And who was in town for an election campaign rally but President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who proceeded to take charge of the manhunt!

Wonder if these are some of the "tactics" the police are learning from their American "advisors"?