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20 rebels die in Philippine clash
 More than 20 Muslim rebels have been killed in fierce fighting in the southern Philippines in retaliatory attacks following the gunning down of a local police chief, police said Monday.The fighting in the southern island of Jolo broke out after Abu Sayyaf members ambushed Chief Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, killing him and four of his men last Thursday. Five rebels were also killed in the attack. Since then, residents in the area have reported seeing numerous Abu Sayyaf bodies left behind after clashes with government forces, local police official Director Felizardo Serapio said. "The civilians in the area sighted 20 more Abu Sayyaf killed aside from the five terrorists killed earlier in the encounter," he said. Serapio said that the Italian Red Cross hostage being held by the rebels, Eugenio Vagni, was reportedly sighted on the outskirts of Indanan town in Jolo but police are still trying to confirm this. Vagni and two other members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Swiss Andreas Notter and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, were abducted while on a humanitarian mission to Jolo January 15. Notter and Lacaba were recovered separately by security forces that included Kasim's men in April, but Vagni remains in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf who are known for kidnapping foreigners and Christians and holding them for ransom. Posted by: Fred 2009-05-12 |
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