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'Third force' linked to Davao blast

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Philippine authorities are investigating the alleged collusion of Iraqis and Indonesians with the Abu Sayyaf in the Davao airport blast that killed 21 people.

Foreign Secretary Blas Ople yesterday advised the newly arrived Iraqi ambassador-designate Ghazi Faisal Hussein 'to warn the members of his staff and members of the Iraqi community in Manila against being involved in activities exceeding the scope of their diplomatic rights and obligations'.

Mr Ople said the United States had 'expressed some anxiety about the Iraqi residents in the Philippines. And they're concerned that some of these Iraqis will try to harm US government interests in the country'.

He said Dr Hussein promised that the Iraqi embassy 'will definitely not be involved in activities with illegal groups and certainly not with terrorist groups'.

Norberto Gonzales, presidential adviser on the peace process, said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had ordered that the probe on the Davao explosion be widened to consider other groups.

Authorities are only now beginning to piece together information tending to show a link-up among Iraqis, Filipinos and Indonesians.

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