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Rebels behead Philippine troops Rebels behead Philippine troops
(about 4 hours later)
Eight Philippine marines have been killed, four of them beheaded, by Islamic rebels in the south of the country, the army says. Islamic militants in the southern Philippines have killed 14 marines, beheading 10 of them, a military spokesman has said.
It says nine marines were injured and six others were missing after a clash near Tipo Tipo town on Basilan island. Nine other marines were wounded and at least four rebels were killed during the incident on Basilan island.
Tuesday's clash took place as the army searched for a seized Italian priest. The clash took place as the marines were searching for an Italian priest.
The kidnappers are believed to be either Abu Sayyaf militants or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, seeking an independent Muslim state in the south. The priest was seized in June by kidnappers believed to be from either Abu Sayyaf or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Marine spokesman Lt Col Ariel Caculitan said the marines ran into a group of some 300 armed men during their search for the priest, triggering the clash. Both groups are seeking an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.
Father Bossi was seized by armed men on his way to church Ceasefire violation?
Eight marines died during the fighting, four of them "were found to be beheaded," the spokesman said.
"We're still looking for the other six, but hopefully some of them may be alive," he said.
The priest, named as Giancarlo Bossi, was seized by armed men near the coastal village of Bulawan near Zamboanga on 10 June.The priest, named as Giancarlo Bossi, was seized by armed men near the coastal village of Bulawan near Zamboanga on 10 June.
Eid Kabalu, a spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday confirmed that the group's members clashed with the marines, according to the AFP news agency. Father Bossi was seized by armed men on his way to churchMarine spokesman Lt Col Ariel Caculitan said the marines ran into a group of some 300 armed men during their search for him, triggering the clash.
But the rebel spokesman said the MILF was not involved in the kidnapping of the priest. Lt Col Caculitan said that 14 marines had been killed. The number of rebels who died is unconfirmed, but reports vary from four to at least 20.
The MILF signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2003, but the authorities have in the past blamed rogue elements from the group for some abductions. Initially, the military assumed that the rebels were mainly from the Abu Sayyaf group - the smallest but deadliest of several Islamic groups fighting the Philippine government.
But army officers say that Abu Sayyaf gunmen do not have a presence in the area where Rev Bossi was kidnapped.
A spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) later confirmed that some its members had been involved in the clash, despite the fact the MILF is currently engaged in peace talks with the government.
Mohagher Iqbal, the chief negotiator for the MILF, said the marines had attacked one of the group's strongholds, violating a ceasefire agreement, and that his forces had therefore fought back.
"The incident could have been avoided if the government had co-ordinated with our forces in Basilan before they actually moved in," he told reporters.
But he denied that the MILF was responsible for the beheadings, or that it was involved in the kidnapping of the priest.