13 August,2009 10:13 AM IST | | AFP
At least 23 government soldiers and more than 20 Muslim extremists were killed in a day-long clash in the southern Philippines, the commanding general said on Thursday.
The bodies of the 23 soldiers and 20 Abu Sayyaf rebels were recovered after fierce fighting yesterday in the town of Ungkaya Pukan in the southern island of Basilan, said regional commander Major General Benjamin Dolorfino.
The fighting broke out as the military overran an Abu Sayyaf camp and found numerous home-made bombs, ready for detonation. They also recovered 13 high-powered firearms, the general said. At least four wounded soldiers were seen being flown in by helicopter to the southern city of Zamboanga.
Soldiers who brought the dead bodies back to Zamboanga City said many of their slain comrades had apparently been hit by sniper fire. Fighting has ceased but troops are still clearing the area to ensure no insurgents remain, Dolorfino said.
Soldiers are also still pursuing other Abu Sayyaf members, he added. Intelligence agencies have said the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden helped in the formation of the Abu Sayyaf group more than a decade ago.
