Philippine marines kill terrorist linked to kidnapping of 3 Americans

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Muslim terrorist linked to the 2001 kidnapping of three Americans has been killed and another was wounded but managed to flee during a clash with marines in the southern Philippines, the military said Sunday. Abu Sayyaf militants Faidar Hadjadi and Jaiton Torsita Abubakar were traveling on a motorcycle when they were stopped by marines at a checkpoint in Indanan township on Jolo Island late Friday. An ensuing clash killed Hadjadi, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said. Abubakar was wounded but managed to escape, he said. Hadjadi, who had a 300,000-peso reward offered for his capture, was involved in the kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf of three Americans and 17 other people from an island resort in 2001. Two of the Americans died while in rebel custody while another was wounded in an army commando rescue that freed her, Torres said.