Philippines says airports open for US airforce
( 2001-09-22 14:09 ) (7 )

The Philippines will allow US military aircraft to refuel at its air facilities and speed up the process of clearing US jets and military ships, government officials said on Saturday.

"All our airports can lend help, especially in the refuelling of aircraft," Transportation Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez said in an interview with local radio dzMM.

But although US planes would still need clearance from Philippine authorities before landing, the paperwork to clear them and US naval ships has been sped up, officials said.

"If those planes stop over here, it will be fast. It's possible they would only stay for a few hours (to refuel)," National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said in a separate radio interview.

Golez on Friday said it was possible the Philippines will offer the use of former US bases in the country to US forces. The United States pulled out of its bases in the country in the early 1990s.

US President George Bush appealed to the world to take his side in a new war on terror as he warned Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the September 11 suicide hijack attacks.

On Friday, Washington ordered more warplanes to join a growing US strike force in range of Afghanistan in preparation for strikes on anti-American guerrilla bases.