Four Philippine soldiers were injured in fresh fighting with Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu province where security forces are pursuing the rebel group holding several kidnapped foreigners and Filipinos. The clashes broke out Friday in Patikul, a day after the military announced the capture of an Abu Sayyaf base in the town's hinterlands. The injured soldiers were airlifted to Zamboanga City as troops continue to pursue the rebels in Patikul, a known Abu Sayyaf stronghold.
Earlier this week, two marines were injured in clashes with rebels in the town where troops recovered a huge cache of improvised explosives from the captured Abu Sayyaf base believed used by Radulan Sahiron, a senior leader of the group.
Brigadier General Martin Pinto described the Abu Sayyaf camp as fortified with connecting trenches and well—established firing positions and littered with hundreds of improvised explosives. There was no indication that Sahiron was among the dead or injured in the fighting, but there were reports that the Abu Sayyaf had fled with some of their hostages.