US unwelcome in Philippines

ISABELA: Nearly 60 years ago, people living on the largely Muslim island of Basilan in the southern Philippines hailed US troops as liberators for driving out Japanese occupiers.

But US troops may not find such a warm welcome in store when they return to the embattled island later in February to join military exercises to tackle Muslim guerrillas that Washington says have links with Osama bin Laden.

Most Christian residents on Basilan interviewed seemed to regard the Americans as messiahs. A few exceptions aside, Muslims were wary of the US troops conducting the new phase of the US "war on terror".

Christian businessman Bienvenido Tan will cheer. A staunch US supporter, the seventy-year-old says he may well march in the streets waving the Stars and Stripes. But jewellery shop owner Hja Sheng, a Muslim, won't be there.

"What will become of us? Another Afghanistan?" Sheng asked.