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20 slain in Philipines terror battle
AS many as 20 people are believed killed as fighting between soldiers and members of an al-Qaeda linked Muslim militant group went into its third day in the southern Philippines today. Heavy rains were hampering the military's pursuit of members of the Abu Sayyaf on the outskirts of the town of Indanan in the southern island of Jolo, said Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, who heads an anti-terrorism task force on the island. Aleo said the total number of soldiers killed had risen to four, with 21 others wounded. Intelligence reports and radio intercepts revealed that 16 Abu Sayyaf members had been killed, although soldiers had only recovered three bodies, Aleo said. The Abu Sayyaf, a feared Muslim outlaw group, has also received extra support from additional armed guerrillas as the troops advanced, Aleo said. Fighting broke out on Friday when Abu Sayyaf members attacked a military patrol in Indanan. Aleo said his soldiers discovered that the rebels had been forcing residents in outlying areas to leave their homes, for an as yet unknown reason. Troops had been sent to help the forced evacuees. The Abu Sayyaf is a group of Muslim militants who have staged various kidnapping and bombing attacks against Christians and foreigners in this largely Roman Catholic nation. It has been linked by both Washington and Manila to the al-Qaeda network. Posted by: Anguger Ulinetch4745 2005-11-13 |
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