MANILA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States Saturday congratulated the Philippines after its armed forces confirmed Abu Sayyaf leader Khaddafy Janjalani was killed in an encounter in last September, calling it a "major step forward in the fight against terrorism in the Philippines and in the global war on terror."

    "The death of Khaddafy Janjalani is an important and positive step forward in the ultimate goal of eliminating the ruthless and dangerous Abu Sayyaf Group and in destroying its links with international terrorist groups such as the Jemaah Islamiyah," the U.S. Embassy in Manila said in a statement.

    The embassy reiterated its commitment to work with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, local law enforcement and the national and local governments in fighting terrorists, saying the U.S. government is committed to building "peace and prosperity in Mindanao and throughout the Philippines."

    The U.S. had tagged Abu Sayyaf as a "foreign terrorist group" responsible for numerous terrorist bombings, murders and kidnappings, including the 2001 Dos Palmas abduction that resulted in the death of two Americans.

    Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Hermogenes Esperon Saturday announced that Janjalani was killed in a clash in September after the results of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test showed that the body exhumed from a makeshift grave in Patikul, Sulu is that of Janjalani.

    The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation helped conduct a DNA test on the tissues of Janjalani and of an elder brother of his, who is now in jail, to determine whether the body was that of the terrorist leader.

    The Philippines and the U.S. forces pursued Janjalani for yearsfor his involvement in several terrorist attacks, abduction and murders in Mindanao. Janjalani was also on a U.S. list of most wanted terrorists and had 5 million U.S. dollar of bounty on his head.

    The U.S. Embassy said it would decide how to make the payment of the reward.

    The Washington-based Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Michael Hayden, whose agents covertly operate in the southern Philippines, recently praised Manila for its cooperation with the U.S. security forces in scoring big against terrorists, according to local media reports.

    The Philippine military and police have sent more fighting men and security forces to Sulu and its neighboring provinces to finally get rid of other Abu Sayyaf members and their allies Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, including two bombers of the 2002 Bali bombing, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who are reportedly hiding in Sulu.

    Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Kristie Kenney, that she was determined to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf with a "hand ofsteel."