Pinoy police seek Malaysian suspect in rebel siege

Philippine police have asked their counterparts in Malaysia for help in tracking down a suspected financier of last month's deadly attack in Zamboanga.

About 200 members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) occupied parts of the southern port city on September 9.

The three-week siege was an apparent bid to derail government peace talks with a rival Muslim group.

Philippine authorities have arrested a Malaysian man in Zamboanga for suspected involvement in the attack.

He claims to have received $US20,000 each week from another Malaysian man who financed Muslim rebels to carry out the siege.

It is alleged the arrested man was a close ally of rebel leader Nur Misuari.

Police say he was found with identification and other evidence linking him to the rebels.

Misuari and 60 other commanders and members of the MNLF are facing rebellion charges for the siege which claimed more than 200 lives.

Shirley Escalante