The United States would provide military support to the Philippines as it backs President Arroyo's fight against breakaway Muslim militant groups threatening fragile peace talks in Mindanao, US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said yesterday.

　　In a forum with foreign correspondents, Ricciardone said negotiations between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government were being made difficult by many groups claiming to be legitimate separatist rebels.

　　While the ongoing peace negotiations brokered by Malaysia to end the MILF's 28-year insurgency were welcomed, Ricciardone said if certain elements of the MILF were "going to hide bombers from Bali, or train bombers or hide kidnappers, or get involved in the drug trade, the law enforcement and security forces of the Philippines are going to go after them and we are going to help them."

　　He said 70 US military personnel were training troops in the southern Philippines in intelligence gathering, leading to the arrest or killing of "25 identified, known, no-doubt-about it terrorist leaders" last year.

　　The government and MILF peace panels are set to resume formal talks on Feb. 5 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.