Philippines says 52 dead in clashes 41 minutes ago

Philippines says 52 dead in clashes 41 minutes ago



MANILA, Philippines - Clashes between Philippine troops and suspected al-Qaida-linked militants have killed at least 52 people on volatile southern Jolo island, the military said Friday.

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The death toll included 25 soldiers and 27 militants, based on updated field reports, according to Maj. Eugene Batara, spokesman for the military's Western Mindanao Command.

The military's initial report said 19 soldiers and one militant were killed.

The fighting erupted Thursday when suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists ambushed a truck carrying troops headed to market, then fought a gunbattle with soldiers in pursuit,

Another 10 soldiers and an undetermined number of militants were hurt, Batara said. He said the militant death toll was based on confirmed intelligence reports, but that the rebels carted away their dead and wounded. There were no reports of new clashes Friday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Suspected militants from the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group ambushed a troops truck Thursday and later battled pursuing soldiers, killing 19 soldiers and wounding 12 others, the Philippine military said.

The insurgents killed nine soldiers before fleeing the second major attack on government troops in recent weeks, said Maj. Eugene Batara, spokesman for the military's Western Mindanao Command.

Troops from the same unit pursuing the militants came upon a bigger insurgent group, sparking a firefight that left 10 soldiers dead and 10 wounded, said Army Col. Antonio Supnet.

The body of one militant was recovered, and pockets of fighting continued into the night.

Batara said the earlier ambush was not an indication that the Abu Sayyaf has regained strength following setbacks dealt by a massive U.S.-backed offensive last year that led to the killing of its top two leaders, including Khaddafy Janjalani.

"They've been attacking our soldiers when they're not in battle mode," Batara told The Associated Press by telephone from the regional military headquarters in southern Zamboanga city.

"They could not fight frontally. They're treacherous," he said.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said about 100 insurgents were behind the Jolo attack and appeared to have been led by Radulan Sahiron, an elusive one-armed Abu Sayyaf commander long wanted by U.S. and Philippine authorities for his alleged role in several terror attacks.

The military estimates that the Abu Sayyaf, which has been blamed for deadly bombings and high-profile ransom kidnappings and is on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, has about 300-400 guerrillas, down from more than 1,000 militants during its heyday in early 2000.