The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Manila

Thousands of people protested against U.S. soldiers involved in humanitarian missions in Muslim areas of the southern Philippines on Monday, saying the troops' presence could be provocative.

About 6,000 U.S. troops are taking part in annual training exercises with Philippine troops over two weeks but they will only hold humanitarian missions in the south of the archipelago, where Muslim communities are suspicious of their activities. Zainab Ampatuan, head of the Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Moro People) political party, said about 20,000 people gathered in the southern cities of Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and Pikit to protest the presence of U.S. soldiers in Muslim villages. Ampatuan said the troops might provoke members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim separatist group, which is angered that long-running peace talks with Manila have stalled.