COTABATO (Philippines): Thousands of government troops have amassed near a southern Muslim guerilla stronghold, triggering the flight of villagers amid fears the military was poised to attack rebels allegedly sheltering a notorious kidnap gang, officials said yesterday.
About 2,000 marines and army troops were deployed over the weekend to marshland bordering North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces for an assault against Moro Islamic Liberation Front hideouts where suspected kidnappers have been spotted, said army Col Carduzo Luna.
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