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Philippines troops clash with Abu Sayyaf - 12 dead | Philippines troops clash with Abu Sayyaf - 12 dead |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least seven marines and five militants were killed as troops fought an Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines, the military says. | |
Nine other marines and a number of Abu Sayyaf fighters were wounded, a local military commander said. | Nine other marines and a number of Abu Sayyaf fighters were wounded, a local military commander said. |
A firefight broke out near the coastal town of Patikul in Sulu province as troops tracked the militants, he said. | A firefight broke out near the coastal town of Patikul in Sulu province as troops tracked the militants, he said. |
Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist militant group, has carried out several recent kidnappings. | Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist militant group, has carried out several recent kidnappings. |
Kidnaps for ransom | Kidnaps for ransom |
Military spokesman Brig Gen Domingo Tutaan said the early morning gun battle raged for an hour in a village on the outskirts of Patikul. | Military spokesman Brig Gen Domingo Tutaan said the early morning gun battle raged for an hour in a village on the outskirts of Patikul. |
The marines were hunting down Abu Sayyaf members, who were believed to be behind recent kidnappings for ransom in the area, he said. | The marines were hunting down Abu Sayyaf members, who were believed to be behind recent kidnappings for ransom in the area, he said. |
These include the abduction of the wife of a marine, who was freed unharmed two days after she was seized, he added. | These include the abduction of the wife of a marine, who was freed unharmed two days after she was seized, he added. |
Colonel Jose Joriel Cenabre, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said dozens of militants had taken cover near a row of houses. | |
"There were a lot of civilians near the enemy, so we couldn't fire on them," said Joemar Monte, one of the injured marines. | |
Abu Sayyaf is considered the smallest but the most radical of the extremist movements in the southern Philippines. | Abu Sayyaf is considered the smallest but the most radical of the extremist movements in the southern Philippines. |
The group is active in the impoverished region, where minority Muslims have been fighting for self-rule for decades. | The group is active in the impoverished region, where minority Muslims have been fighting for self-rule for decades. |
The US government considers it a terrorist group, and says it has links with al-Qaeda. | The US government considers it a terrorist group, and says it has links with al-Qaeda. |
The main Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, last year signed a peace accord with the government in exchange for broad autonomy. | The main Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, last year signed a peace accord with the government in exchange for broad autonomy. |
But Abu Sayyaf was among the rebel groups who refused to sign up to the peace deal. | But Abu Sayyaf was among the rebel groups who refused to sign up to the peace deal. |