ZAMBOANGA: An estimated 18,000 people have fled their homes as the military stepped up a major offensive yesterday against Muslim separatists linked to terrorists in the southern Philippines, an official said.
The fighting raged as US President George W. Bush announced on Monday he planned to designate the Philippines a full US military ally after talks in the White House with Philippine leader Gloria Arroyo, a key backer of the US-led global fight against terrorism.
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