MANILA (BBC) -- Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has sent the country's army chief to the restive south to lead operations against Islamic militants there.

""I have ordered army commanding general Romeo Tolentino to the front lines,"" Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.
""The army headquarters will now be temporarily set up in Zamboanga until the situation normalizes,"" she said.
Fighting on the island of Jolo this week has left at least 50 people dead, 25 of them Filipino soldiers.
Following the clashes thousands of civilians have fled their homes on the island, which is some 950km (600 miles) south of the capital, Manila.
On Saturday local officials appealed for food, water and medicines as people flocked to community centres and schools, fearing more fighting.
Guide to Philippines conflict
Troops backed by US military trainers have been fighting militants affiliated to various groups, hiding in the island's mountainous terrain.
Clashes broke out on Thursday when a troop convoy was ambushed near the town of Maimburg, leaving 10 soldiers dead.
Fifteen more soldiers were killed and 17 were wounded in gun battles after reinforcements were flown in to engage with militants.
Reinforcements
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) - which signed a peace deal with the government in 1996 - claimed responsibility for the ambush, saying it was in retaliation for earlier army offensives.
But military officials have also blamed Abu Sayyaf, the group behind the Philippines' worst terror attack - a ferry bombing in 2004 that killed more than 100 people.
The US has listed Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organisation and says it has links to Al-Qaeda, as well as the regional militant group Jemaah Islamiah.
An extra 1,000 soldiers have now arrived in Jolo, to join 4,000 already stationed there.
""We are continuing with our operation to be able to cordon off and finally destroy the Abu Sayyaf,"" army spokesman Ernesto Torres said.
Correspondents say the stakes were raised last month after 14 marines were killed on nearby Basilan island, with 10 of them beheaded.