Sydney confirms Philippine operation

Australian said yesterday they have been engaged in a covert operation to crush Muslim extremist networks in the Philippines for nearly a year in an effort to stop the spread of terrorism in the region.

Australian Federal Police have been working in the Philippines since it called for assistance following the bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay in February last year which killed more than 100 people, police said in a statement.

"The AFP [Australian Federal Police] can confirm it currently has members deployed to the Philippines to assist in a counterterrorist capacity," it said.

Police to comment on operational details but reports said yesterday that the Australians have been investigating links between the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping group, regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah and a new group known as Rajas Sulaiman. Their work has uncovered and thwarted a plot to carry out a Madrid-style bombing of Manila's train system.

Police worked on the troubled southern island of Mindanao to track senior members of terror groups and conducted forensic investigations into the ferry fire last year which determined it was caused by a small bomb planted by Abu Sayyaf members, the paper said.

"This is one of the most significant things we have ever done overseas," a senior police officer said. "We have investigators and forensic and explosive specialists helping fight terrorism before it spreads further into the region including Australia. We have had teams go to other countries to help in an investigation before ... but not be based there."

Australian said the program started on July 1 last year and served "strictly to assist and cooperate with the PNP [Philippines National Police], and is only one of many deployments providing assistance to regional counterparts as requested."

The contingent included forensic and technical experts, bomb technicians, investigators, analysts and intelligence officers, it said.

"There is not necessarily a permanent base or presence of the AFP in the Philippines," police said in the statement.

"However, the AFP is committed to providing some long term and comprehensive assistance to the PNP and other regional partners to investigate and combat terrorism in the region."

The conservative government of Prime Minister John Howard has deployed police and troops to various Pacific nations including the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in a bid to prevent them from becoming havens for terrorists and organized crime.

Australia signed counterterrorism agreements with 12 countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan and India.