ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Jan 4, 2008 (AFP) - Philippine troops have arrested a senior Islamic militant over the kidnap and killing of a group of tourists, including two Americans, in 2001, a military statement said Friday.

Soldiers backed by police raided a hideout of the Al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf group in southern Margosatubig island on Thursday, the statement said.

Troops arrested Abu Sayyaf commander Tuatin Anahaly and seized a cache of weapons including a pistol that he was carrying, near the city of Zamboanga.

Anahaly has been on the run since a two-million-peso (48,700-dollar) bounty was placed on this head over his role in the abduction of three Americans and a group of Filipinos from a resort off western Palawan island.

Five of the hostages, including two of the Americans, were later killed.

Many of the Abu Sayyaf gunmen who took part in the raid have since been killed or captured, and last month 14 Abu Sayyaf members were sentenced to life in prison over the incident.

The Abu Sayyaf, set up with funds from the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden, has been blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines, including a 2004 ferry bombing on Manila that claimed more than 100 lives.

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