Friday, July 16, 2004
Philippine Troops Start Leaving Iraq, Allies Upset
Philippine Troops Start Leaving Iraq, Allies Upset
Fri Jul 16,10:59 AM ET
Reuters
By Dean Yates
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Philippines began pulling troops out of Iraq Friday to save the life of a Filipino hostage, ignoring calls from the United States and other allies not to bow to kidnappers' demands.
Diplomats in Baghdad said a headless corpse found in the Tigris River was probably that of a Bulgarian hostage killed by militants linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi. Hopes of finding a second Bulgarian alive were fading, they said.
Speaking on television, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert said all of Manila's small force would leave soon.
"The Philippine government has recalled the head of the Philippine humanitarian contingent in Iraq. He is leaving Iraq today with 10 members of the Philippine humanitarian contingent," Albert said. The rest would follow shortly.
All the troops had been scheduled to leave Aug. 20, but that date was brought forward to satisfy Islamic militants threatening to behead truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.
Thursday, Iraq's interim prime minister urged Manila to hold firm as he announced the formation of a domestic spy agency to "annihilate" the insurgents launching daily attacks.
Fri Jul 16,10:59 AM ET
Reuters
By Dean Yates
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Philippines began pulling troops out of Iraq Friday to save the life of a Filipino hostage, ignoring calls from the United States and other allies not to bow to kidnappers' demands.
Diplomats in Baghdad said a headless corpse found in the Tigris River was probably that of a Bulgarian hostage killed by militants linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi. Hopes of finding a second Bulgarian alive were fading, they said.
Speaking on television, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert said all of Manila's small force would leave soon.
"The Philippine government has recalled the head of the Philippine humanitarian contingent in Iraq. He is leaving Iraq today with 10 members of the Philippine humanitarian contingent," Albert said. The rest would follow shortly.
All the troops had been scheduled to leave Aug. 20, but that date was brought forward to satisfy Islamic militants threatening to behead truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.
Thursday, Iraq's interim prime minister urged Manila to hold firm as he announced the formation of a domestic spy agency to "annihilate" the insurgents launching daily attacks.
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