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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippine troops battle Abu Sayyaf in Basilan |
| 2013-09-13 |
| Philippine soldiers thwarted a plan by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels to attack the police headquarters in Lamitan City of Basilan province, as a standoff involving followers of Nur Misuari in this Zamboanga City dragged into a fourth day on Thursday. Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said rangers clashed with about 100 armed men on their way to Camp Uno in Lamitan City around 8:30 a.m. Three rebels and a civilian were killed. The island province of Basilan is a short boat ride away from Zamboanga City, where Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters loyal to Nur Misuari have been holding dozens hostage since Monday. The four-day-old crisis has virtually paralyzed Zamboanga, a lively port city of nearly a million people, with most commercial flights and ferry services suspended. Hataman said Abu Sayyaf militants, not MNLF forces, were involved in the Lamitan clash. He said it was impossible that the MNLF were involved because “they have only 100 men there and all of them are in Zamboanga City.” Perez said one Army soldier and two civilian volunteers suffered minor injuries. “Lawless elements” were involved in the fighting, he said, describing them as “80 percent members of the Abu Sayyaf and 20 percent MNLF.” |
| Posted by:ryuge |