Philippine President: IS leader responsible for fighting in Marawi
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on June 11 that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), ordered the siege in Marawi city on Mindanao island.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said onJune 11 that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the self-proclaimed Islamic State(IS), ordered the siege in Marawi city on Mindanao island.
The city have been suffering from severe damage as clashes betweengovernment troops and Islamic militants of the Maute group over the last threeweeks claimed nearly 200 lives, including 20 citizens.
According to Philstar newspaper of the Philippines, speaking withreporters at Cagayan de Oro city, President Duterte said that al-Baghdadiordered the terrorist activities in the Philippines himself.
Duterte once accused the Maute group of having links with IS, addingthat the wanted terrorist Isnilon Hapilon was assigned to lead the IS group inthe Philippines and plotted to form an Islamic nation in the Southeast Asiancountry.
The same day, Philippine senators requested relevant agencies toconfiscate or freeze assets of the Maute group’s leaders and family members, ina bid to prevent flow of money which is believed to support the group’scampaign in Mindanao.
President Duterte imposed martial law on Mindanao until mid-July, asinsurgents launched attacks in Marawi on May 23 after the government’s raid toseek Hapilon.
The US lists Hapilon as one of the world's most dangerous terroristsand has offered bounty of 5 million USD for his capture.
The US Special Operation Forces are assisting the Philippine militaryin operations in Marawi to take back the city from the militants.-VNA
It is feared that southern Philippines is fast becoming a centre of extremist groups in Asia, as evidenced by dozens of foreign gunmen joining hands with local IS militants to fight security forces in the region last week.
The Philippines’ security force on June 7 smashed a conspiracy of Islamic fighters lurking in Marawi to sow acts of terrorism and incite extremists to rebellion in order to occupy the southern city.
The US Special Operation Forces are assisting the Philippine military in operations against the Islamist militants, the US Embassy in Manila confirmed on June 10.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: Reuters) 
