Basilan, Philippines
More than 50 prisoners, mostly Islamic extremists with the Abu Sayyaf terror group, broke out of prison in the Philippines this week. Most were recaptured within a few days, but of the 19 still at large, eight were members of Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic separatist group with ties to al Qaida. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the entire island of Basilan cordoned off, to prevent the fugitives from escaping to other provinces. The Philippines has made some recent progress against Abu Sayyaf. Last week, Philippine troops killed Hamsiraji Sali, a terrorist who was wanted by the U.S. in connection with the kidnapping, in 2001, of three Americans, two of whom were murdered.
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