BRIEFLY : Captured Rebel Worries Manila
International Herald Tribune
November 26, 2001

MANILA- The Philippines' best-known Muslim leader has been captured on a Malaysian island and now threatens to become as much a problem in captivity as he was as a rebel on the run.

The question is where he will become that problem: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines and Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia were in agreement on the need to keep Mr. Misuari in prison, but preferably in the other's country.

Mr. Misuari was seized Saturday in Malaysia as more than 6,000 Philippine soldiers roamed his island stronghold, Jolo. He instigated a revolt on the island last week in which more 100 people were killed.

Mr. Misuari had fled by boat, going down the Sulu Island chain that extends to the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo, after ordering his followers to attack Philippine government posts in Jolo.

Officials in Manila feared that Mr. Misuari, as a prisoner, could regain his hero status and again rally the Philippines' Muslim minority around him.

The dangers rose as the authorities sought to prevent unrest during elections Monday for a successor to Mr. Misuari as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, five southern provinces where the government has long dreamed of providing a degree of self-rule for Muslims within the Philippine national framework.

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