7 Muslim Rebels Indicted in Bombings

Seven Muslim guerrillas, only one of whom is in custody, were indicted in connection with bombings Dec. 30 that killed 22 people in the Manila area. Among those indicted were Salamat Hashim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and six other leaders and members of the Muslim separatist group that police claim masterminded the attacks, which also injured 120 people. The five powerful explosions struck a commuter train, a bus, the airport, a park near the U.S. Embassy and an abandoned gas station near a crowded commercial center in the capital. They raised security concerns and heightened tension surrounding the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada on corruption charges.