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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Drone 'kills Filipino militant' | Drone 'kills Filipino militant' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Filipino militant wanted by the US is believed to have been killed by an American drone aircraft near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials said. | A Filipino militant wanted by the US is believed to have been killed by an American drone aircraft near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials said. |
| Abdul Basit Usman was reported killed on 14 January along with several others on the border of South and North Waziristan tribal regions, they said. | Abdul Basit Usman was reported killed on 14 January along with several others on the border of South and North Waziristan tribal regions, they said. |
| The US state department has offered a $1m reward for information leading to the militant's capture. | |
| Authorities in Philippines said they were investigating the report. | Authorities in Philippines said they were investigating the report. |
| "If the reports are true then it is good news for us because the killing of Basit Usman means one less terrorist on the street," the AFP news agency quoted Lt-Gen Benjamin Dolorfino, military commander in south-western Philippines, as saying. | "If the reports are true then it is good news for us because the killing of Basit Usman means one less terrorist on the street," the AFP news agency quoted Lt-Gen Benjamin Dolorfino, military commander in south-western Philippines, as saying. |
| But, he added: "We still have to verify the reports." | But, he added: "We still have to verify the reports." |
| 'Bomb expert' | 'Bomb expert' |
| Mr Dolorfino said he was involved in many deadly bombings in the southern Philippines' Mindanao region, where Muslim insurgents have waged a decades-old separatist rebellion, the AFP reported. | Mr Dolorfino said he was involved in many deadly bombings in the southern Philippines' Mindanao region, where Muslim insurgents have waged a decades-old separatist rebellion, the AFP reported. |
| Correspondents say that if it is confirmed, the death of Abdul Basit Usman would represent a major success for the US authorities. | Correspondents say that if it is confirmed, the death of Abdul Basit Usman would represent a major success for the US authorities. |
| The US state department describes him as a bomb-making expert with links to the Abu Sayyaf militant organisation in the Philippines. | The US state department describes him as a bomb-making expert with links to the Abu Sayyaf militant organisation in the Philippines. |
| Basit is believed to have orchestrated several bombings that have killed, injured, and maimed many innocent civilians US State Department Profile: Jemaah Islamiah | Basit is believed to have orchestrated several bombings that have killed, injured, and maimed many innocent civilians US State Department Profile: Jemaah Islamiah |
| It says he has links to Jemaah Islamiah, a South-east Asian Islamic extremist group linked to al-Qaeda. | It says he has links to Jemaah Islamiah, a South-east Asian Islamic extremist group linked to al-Qaeda. |
| "US authorities consider Basit to be a threat to US and Filipino citizens and interests. Basit is believed to have orchestrated several bombings that have killed, injured, and maimed many innocent civilians," the state department website says. | "US authorities consider Basit to be a threat to US and Filipino citizens and interests. Basit is believed to have orchestrated several bombings that have killed, injured, and maimed many innocent civilians," the state department website says. |
| According to earlier report, the 14 January drone attack had targeted Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. | According to earlier report, the 14 January drone attack had targeted Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. |
| A Taliban spokesman said Mehsud had been in the area but left before the attack. | A Taliban spokesman said Mehsud had been in the area but left before the attack. |