Across Asia: Singapore

Militant 'still on island'

Singapore police said yesterday that they "strongly believe" the alleged leader of an Al-Qaida-linked militant network is still on the island and acting on his own, five days after his shock prison escape.

State-owned Channel NewsAsia reported the police as saying that Mas Selamat bin Kastari, the suspected leader of Singapore's wing of Jemaah Islamiah, "is not helped by anyone, and he has no food, money, nor transport means to flee Singapore."

(China Daily 03/03/2008 page6)