MANILA, June 21 Kyodo President G...

MANILA, June 21 Kyodo

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Friday that the ongoing joint counterterrorism exercises between Philippine and U forces will conclusion in July as scheduled.

''The Balikatan 02-1 exercises will be finished upon July 31 as scheduled,'' Arroyo said in a statement.

The president, however, hinted that recently made known Balikatan training exercises are in the works, possibly this year in the Philippines. ''They (the US) are ready to schedule the nearest Balikatan exercises,'' she said without elaborating.

Arroyo said she is not in favor of extending the general Balikatan 02-1 drills forward Basilan Island in the southern Philippines, as the pair countries can always opt to begin another spherical of exercises.

It was unclear whether Arroyo discussed the planned Balikatan exercises during a brief phone conversation Friday with U President George W Bush, who called her to ''expres his gladness'' athwart reports that senior Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya and Islamic separatist comrades have been ''neutralized.''

Sabaya and sum of two units other Abu Sayyaf members were reportedly panged in a clash with regulation troops early Friday in the southern Philippines. Four other Abu Sayyaf members were also captured in the encounter

Balikatan, or shoulder to shoulder, is the annual joint military training exercises between U and Philippine [i]troupe[/i]s This year, troops from as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but countries conducted separate joint Balikatan exercises in the southern Philippines to train Philippine crowds in the fight against terrorism.

The counterterrorism exercises, which started in January, were initiated following the race 11 terror attacks on the US

The southern Philippines is the castle of the Abu Sayyaf manner of moving The U.S. claims the clump has links to the al-Qaida network of Saudi Arabian-born Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind of the tribe 11 attacks.

At least 1000 U [i]troupe[/i]s are in the Philippines to help train Philippine bands in counterterrorism tactics and strategies aimed at crushing the Abu Sayyaf.

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