Philippine troops killed at least 6 Muslim guerrillas after a dawn swoop on their camp on the remote southwestern island of Jolo, a senior military official said on Thursday. Around 3,000 troops, backed by U.S. equipment and intelligence, are hunting about 200 militants from the Abu Sayyaf group, who regularly set up camp in the interior jungles of Jolo. Two Indonesians suspected of carrying out deadly bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 are also believed to be hiding out with them.
Marines Brigadier-General Juancho Sabban said four soldiers were wounded in the clash with around 80 members of Abu Sayyaf, the smallest of four Muslim rebel groups in the mainly Roman Catholic country. The rebels, who are believed to be sheltering Indonesians Umar Patek and Dulmatin, killed two commandos and wounded 17 others in fierce fighting on Wednesday. Despite numerous offensives on Jolo, including one with 5,000 troops in 2004, Abu Sayyaf leaders and their foreign colleagues have eluded capture. |