A radical fringe among the Philippines' seven million Muslims has threatened to conduct 'sympathy strikes' if the United States invades Iraq.
In Manila's mosques on Friday, preachers reminded the faithful of their obligation to help their brothers in distress, including Iraq's 23 million people.
The preachers suggested Filipino Muslims file statements of support with the Iraqi Embassy in Manila and with its charge d'affaires, Samir-A-Masih-Bolous, whom Foreign Secretary Blas Ople summoned last week to explain his participation in anti-US gatherings.
A Muslim leader in the south has threatened to send fighters to Iraq. Abdullah Dalidig, chairman of the Muslim Multi-sectoral Movement for Peace and Development, also has warned of 'sympathy strikes' against US interests in the Philippines in retaliation for the deaths of Iraqi civilians, which some US experts estimate could reach 100,000.
He did not say what form the attacks would take but said his group believed in 'resorting to the armed option' when necessary.
Mr Dalidig's group has grown more radical over the past two years. Its officials refuse to say where its funding comes from.