Muslim rebels deny links with Al-Qaeda

COTABATO, Philippines (Xinhua) - The rogue group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) today denied that it is working with foreign terror group Al-Qaeda as it gears up to launch attacks against government troops in southern Philippines.

BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama said there is no evidence supporting the claim of the Philippine military that two Al-Qaeda members were captured in their camp in Maguindanao province.

Based on its intelligence report, the military said the BIFF was coddling a terrorist, Malaysian Zulkifli Bin Hir, who is also known as Marwan.

There is a bounty of $5 million on Zulkifli over his involvement in the 2002 bombing in Bali, Indonesia, which left 110 foreign nationals dead.

"We don't have foreigners in our organization. That's a big lie. I think (the military) keep on telling we have foreigners to justify the use of their intelligence funds," said Mama.

The Philippine military launched "Operation Darkhorse" against the Moro rebels on Jan. 26 to arrest BIFF members involved in various crimes such as kidnapping and murder. The military operation left 52 BIFF members dead and 49 others wounded.

Soldiers also overran four BIFF camps and a makeshift improvised explosive device factory in the towns of Ganta, Shariff Saydona, and Mustapha in Maguindanao.

The BIFF, which broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has opposed the ongoing peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF.