This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6939753.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Fifty dead' in Philippines clash Philippine clashes leave 50 dead
(about 11 hours later)
More than 50 people have been killed in clashes between troops and Islamist militants in the southern Philippines, military officials say. The Philippine government is deploying extra troops to the south after some of the bloodiest clashes with militants left more than 50 people dead.
The fighting, on Jolo island, began on Thursday when militants ambushed a military convoy, killing 10 soldiers. The military said it had lost 26 soldiers and killed around 31 militants in three days of fighting on the volatile island of Jolo.
Fifteen more soldiers died in later gun battles, and at least 27 militants were killed, the military said. Thursday saw the heaviest toll after militants ambushed a military convoy.
It blamed Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf and rogue elements in the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The military said the arrival of extra forces would bring to 4,000 the number of troops stationed in the area.
Thousands of Philippine troops, backed by US military trainers, are based in Jolo, some 950km (600 miles) south of the capital, Manila. Government troops, backed by US military trainers, have been fighting Islamist militants affiliated to various groups who have been hiding in the island's mountainous terrain for several months.
They have been fighting Islamist militants affiliated to various groups who have been hiding in the island's mountainous terrain for several months. As far as I can remember, this is our biggest casualty day Lt Col Bartolome Bacarro
The stakes were raised last month after 14 marines were killed on nearby Basilan island, with 10 of them beheaded.
Militants from Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were suspected of being behind the attacks.
Gun battlesGun battles
Thursday's fighting took place near the town of Maimburg. Abu Sayyaf and rogue elements from another group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), were blamed for Thursday's fighting near the town of Maimburg.
Troops have been fighting militants in Jolo for several months A troop convoy was ambushed on its way to the town early in the morning, leaving 10 soldiers dead.
A troop convoy was ambushed on its way to the town early in the morning. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1695576.stm">Guide to Philippines conflict
Reinforcement troops were then flown in to engage the militants, sparking gun battles that went on late into the night. Fifteen more soldiers were killed and 17 were wounded in gun battles that went on late into Thursday night after troop reinforcements were flown in to engage with more than 100 militants.
A military spokesman said that the militants had carried away their dead, but that the number of casualties was based on confirmed reports from the field. "As far as I can remember, this is our biggest casualty day," Lt Col Bartolome Bacarro said.
The MNLF, which signed a peace deal with the government in 1996, said it was behind Thursday's ambush, which it said was in retaliation for an army offensive on Wednesday. He said intelligence reports showed 27 militants had been killed and 25 wounded, although the militant groups had carried away most of their dead.
But military officials also blamed Abu Sayyaf, the group behind the Philippines' worst terror attack - a ferry bombing in 2004 that killed more than 100 people. The skirmishes began in Jolo, some 950km (600 miles) south of the capital, Manila, on Tuesday.
Troops and militants clashed in Indanan town, wounding two marines. A day later a gun battle around Parang township killed one soldier and four militants.
The MNLF, which signed a peace deal with the government in 1996, claimed responsibility for Thursday's 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.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.