Powell faces protests over Filipino shooting

U.S. troops are involved in training Filipino soldiers in counter-terrorism to help defeat the Abu Sayyaf guerillas

MANILA, Philippines -- Tensions have heightened ahead of a visit to the Philippines by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, with protesters threatening to rally over the shooting of a suspected Muslim extremist.

The U.S. embassy on Monday denied claims an American soldier was involved in the shooting, as protestors said they would confront Powell, in Asia seeking support on the war on terror.

The U.S. embassy says the American soldier was a medic treating the victim after he was wounded in a raid on a suspected Abu Sayyaf house by Philippine troops.

There are currently around 1,000 U.S. troops in the south of the Philippines training Filipino soldiers in counter terrorism to help defeat the Abu Sayyaf guerillas believed to be linked to al Qaeda.

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A shooting by an American might violate the exercise's terms, which prohibit U.S. troops from firing except in self-defense.

The U.S. troops in the Philippines represents America's biggest deployment in its war against terror, after Aghanistan.

The shooting incident occurred last week as soldiers raided the house of a suspected Abu Sayyaf operative on southern Basilan island. Philippine officials said Boyongboyong Isnijal was wounded as he tried to grab a soldier's rifle.

But according to the Associated Press, Isnijal's wife Juraida claimed an American soldier shot her husband.

The U.S. embassy called the accusation "outrageous."

"The U.S. Embassy categorically denies the assertions of involvement by U.S. service personnel in a shooting incident in Basilan," the embassy said in a statement reported by Associated Press.

"No U.S. forces were involved in combat operations in Basilan," the embassy said. "No U.S. service member fired on a Filipino civilian. A U.S. medic may have actually saved the life of the (Abu Sayyaf) member involved."

Manila protest planned

The incident has fueled tension in the Philippines, as Manila prepares for Powell's arrival on Saturday, when he is scheduled to meet with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for talks expected to focus on continuing the global war on terrorism.

Philippine police said they would quash any protest against Powell's visit.

The focal point of Powell's tour will be an address to a summit of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) being held in Brunei later this week.

The ASEAN summit -- involving Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam -- will discuss regional measures against global terrorism.

High on the agenda will be a proposed anti-terrorism treaty with Southeast Asian countries. (Full story)

Southeast Asia is considered to be the "second front" in the war on terrorism with al Qaeda cells suspected of operating in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

The two-day ASEAN security forum will discuss, among other things, ways to eradicate the root causes of terrorism in the region.