Nine people killed in clash in the southern Phillipines

Zamboanga City, Philippines (ANTARA News) - Five soldiers and four
Muslim militants were killed Friday in a clash on a southern Philippine
island, the military said.

The fighting erupted at dawn when government troops encountered a group
of rebels in the town of Kalinggalang Caluang on Jolo island, 1,000
kilometres south of Manila.

Major General Nelson Allaga said more troops have been dispatched to
the area to pursue the gunmen, who were Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels and
rogue Moro National Liberation Front members.

He said eight marines were also wounded in the fighting.

Thousands of troops have been conducting an offensive in Jolo since
August last year in a bid to neutralize the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf
rebels and their allies, DPA reported.(*) END