MILF leader in 2007 Marine beheadings falls

An official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) linked to the beheading of fourteen Marine soldiers following an encounter in Mindanao two years ago was arrested Saturday as he was to board a flight for Saudi Arabia. The MILF identified the suspect as Asnawi Addan Salah, who was arrested by police Special Action Force operatives at the Zamboanga International Airport at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Asnawi was reportedly among the 130 MILF members charged in the killing and beheading of 14 Marines in Basilan province on July 10, 2007. "He was taken to Western Mindanao police headquarters at Camp Abendan for questioning, (and) is facing nine counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder in Isabela City," the MILF saidon its Web site Sunday afternoon. Asnawi, a sub-commander of the MILF 114th Base Command, was en route to Manila to board a flight for Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s pilgrimage when he was arrested. The MILF, the largest secessionist organization in the country, confirmed the encounter but denied beheading the Marines, saying it is an act against Islam. - GMANews.TV