Philippines pulling out of Iraq early to meet kidnap demand

The Associated press

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines said Wednesday it is withdrawing its small peacekeeping contingent from Iraq early to meet the demand of kidnappers threatening to kill a captive Filipino truck driver.

The announcement, which said the pullout was beginning immediately, was a dramatic turnaround by one of Washington's biggest backers in the global war on terrorism. The Southeast Asian country earlier vowed it would not yield to pressure to move up the withdrawal, which had been scheduled for Aug. 20 when the force's mandate ends.

It was a blow to the U.S.-led international contingent in Iraq, which earlier was hit by the pullout of Spanish forces following the deadly terror attacks on Madrid train system.

A deadline set by the Iraqi Islamic Army-Khaled bin Al-Waleed Corps for the Philippines to meet the group's demands had expired early Tuesday, but negotiations had continued in Iraq through intermediaries. The insurgents had told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that Angelo dela Cruz, a poor father of eight, already had been moved to the place he would be killed if she didn't change her mind.

The crisis put Arroyo squarely between domestic concerns and her previously strong commitment to the United States, the Philippines' former colonial power.

The timing was particularly bad, with political wounds still fresh from a bitter election. The opposition claims it won and has warned of possible mass protests. But the government has said that the threat of possible destabilization plots had eased following Arroyo's inauguration for a new six-year term on June 30.