[Reuters] Rebels holding parts of the southern Philippine city of Marawi have been cornered and their firepower is diminishing after five weeks of fighting. But despite signs that the militants are now on the back foot, regional governments are worried that the siege could be just the prelude to further violence as the Islamic State tries to establish a foothold in the area.Jolted by the May 23 attack on Marawi, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have launched joint patrols to control the movement of militants across islands in the region and their foreign ministers gathered in Manila on Thursday for talks.
Malaysia is worried that militants who are flushed out of Marawi City may try to cross from the Philippines to its eastern state of Sabah. Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) chief Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said, "We fear that they may enter the country disguised as illegal immigrants or foreign fishermen."
He said Esscom had drawn up a wanted list that included two militants who spearheaded the attempt to capture Marawi. They are Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was proclaimed last year as the Islamic State's "emir" of Southeast Asia, and Abdullah Maute.
The Philippine military said the number of militants holding out in Marawi had dwindled to "a little over 100".
"Their area has been reduced to one square kilometer only," said Lt Col Christopher Tampus, whose troops are blocking escape routes across bridges spanning a river to the west of the rebels. He said, "Our forces are coming from the east and the north and we are blocking the three bridges."
Tampus said rebel snipers were still firing from strategic nests in schools and mosques, and home-made bombs were hampering the progress of troops as they advanced house by house. He said he had seen at least five civilians dressed in black who appeared to have been forced to stand in the street as human shields.