61.  Amid the growing debate in Manila, about three dozen US advisers officially began joint military exercises with local forces in the northern Philippines Tuesday.

62.  Austrian, was detained earlier this year by UN police in the province along with two policemen serving with the local force under suspicion of mistreating a prisoner.

63.  But Bandit troop have yet to make direct contact with local military forces.

64.  Carolina said that US surveillance aircraft were providing support to the local forces in Jolo although no US troops were actually engaged in combat.

65.  Covarrubias said there had been a recent battle between local forces and the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan but he could not yet give any details.

66.  Earlier a spokeswoman for Kent police, the local force on the English side of the rail link, suggested other technical problems may have caused the breakdown.

67.  The US has begun deploying hundreds of troops in the Philippines to train local forces to combat Muslim guerillas linked to al-Qaeda.

68.  They can join activities such as monitoring cease-fires, disarming local forces, patrolling demilitarised zones, and collecting and disposing of abandoned weapons.

69.  US troops are advising and assisting local forces but are barred from actual combat with the Abu Sayyaf except in self defense.

70.  Six Palestinians were reported killed Sunday in Nablus, where Israeli paratroopers fought local forces for control of the Old City and marketplace, Palestinian medical officials said.