Philippines: October 5, 2001

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Increased violence by Moslem radicals has caused the US government to withdraw government employees and contractors from parts of the Philippines most threatened by the violence. Civilians were warned to avoid traveling to the dangerous Philippines areas. On Basilan, soldiers, acting on information from a captured rebel, found what appears to be the body of an American killed by Abu Sayyaf four months ago.  In the south, members of two different rebel groups (MILF and MNLF) fought, leaving two MNLF men dead. The groups are disputing who is entitled to collect protection money ("revolutionary taxes) in a particular area.