[AFP] 2,000 fearful civilians were trapped on Sunday inside Marawi where Philippine troops are battling Islamist militants, as the death toll from almost a week of fighting neared 100. The military intensified its bombing campaign on parts of the city on Mindanao island, as it accused the gunmen of atrocities including murdering women and a child. Most of the city's 200,000 residents have fled, but 2,000 remain trapped in areas controlled by the militants. Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesman for the provincial crisis management committee, said, "They have been sending us text messages, calling our hotline, requesting us to send rescue teams but we cannot simply go to areas which are inaccessible to us. They want to leave. They are afraid for their safety. Some are running out of food to eat. They fear they will be hit by bullets, by airstrikes."
The military announced on Saturday, the start of Ramadan, that it would step up the bombing. Military spokesman Restituto Padilla said, "In as much as we would like to avoid collateral damage, these rebels are forcing the hand of government by hiding and holding out inside private homes, government buildings and other facilities. Their refusal to surrender is holding the city captive. Hence, it is now increasingly becoming necessary to use more surgical airstrikes to clear the city and to bring this rebellion to a quicker end."
The insurgents have killed at least 19 civilians, including three women and a child who were found dead near a university. Regional military spokesman Jo-ar Herrera said,"These are civilians, women. These terrorists are anti-people."
A press photographer saw eight bodies dumped off a bridge on the outskirts of Marawi on Sunday, with local residents identifying them as employees of a rice mill and a medical college. It was not clear whether those eight were included in the military's count of civilian deaths.
Fifteen soldiers, two policemen and 61 rebels have been killed in the fighting, according to officials. This brings the combined official death toll to at least 97.