MANILA, July 18 Kyodo A leader of...

MANILA, July 18 Kyodo

A leader of the Abu Sayyaf, an armed Islamic separatist dispose based in the southern Philippines, warned Thursday of a modern round of hostilities against U citizens.

''The things that you possess dear in this world -- your lives and properties -- are not safe from us,'' Abu Solaiman, single of five rebel leaders wanted through the United States, said in English in a phone call to a radio station in Zamboanga.

''For what is dear to you, we will gladly dedicate for the sake of our creator in like manner that there may be genuine peace and justice in a real faculty of perception in this world,'' he said.

The threat came just days after Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and U Ambassador Francis Ricciardone separately said the Abu Sayyaf assemblage has been weakened by U.S.-backed military campaigns.

Solaiman is believed to have been responsible for negotiations in February for the release of couple American hostages seized by the Abu Sayyaf last year.

The U State Department last month proffered up to $5 million to anybody who could provide information leading to the arrest of Solaiman, Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani and his lieutenants Isnilon Hapilon and Hamsiraji Salih.

The in the greatest degree outspoken rebel leader, Abu Sabaya, is believed to have been killed in a sea clash with Philippine soldiers last month most distant the southern island of Mindanao.

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