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| Marawi siege: Philippine militants 'stockpiled food and weapons' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Islamist militants who have overrun the Philippine city of Marawi have prepared for a long siege, hiding in tunnels and basements with stockpiles of food and weapons, officials say. | Islamist militants who have overrun the Philippine city of Marawi have prepared for a long siege, hiding in tunnels and basements with stockpiles of food and weapons, officials say. |
| Security forces have been trying to flush out the gunmen since they attacked the city two weeks ago. | Security forces have been trying to flush out the gunmen since they attacked the city two weeks ago. |
| The conflict has killed at least 170 people, including 20 civilians, and more than 180,000 residents have fled. | The conflict has killed at least 170 people, including 20 civilians, and more than 180,000 residents have fled. |
| Hundreds of civilians are believed to still be trapped with few supplies. | Hundreds of civilians are believed to still be trapped with few supplies. |
| The government, which has been conducting airstrikes, had earlier claimed it had "made gains" in the battle, but has yet to fully retake the city. | The government, which has been conducting airstrikes, had earlier claimed it had "made gains" in the battle, but has yet to fully retake the city. |
| Senior military officials told reporters that they believed the militants were hiding in an extensive network of underground shelters, built years ago. | Senior military officials told reporters that they believed the militants were hiding in an extensive network of underground shelters, built years ago. |
| "There are underground tunnels and basements that even a 500-pounder (bomb) cannot destroy," said Maj Gen Carlito Galvez, head of the military command in the Western Mindanao region. | "There are underground tunnels and basements that even a 500-pounder (bomb) cannot destroy," said Maj Gen Carlito Galvez, head of the military command in the Western Mindanao region. |
| Government and military estimates on the number of militants left in Marawi have ranged from 40 to 200. | Government and military estimates on the number of militants left in Marawi have ranged from 40 to 200. |
| In other developments: | |
| The militants were also apparently well-prepared for a possible siege, and had placed supplies in mosques and religious schools - which are off-limits for air strikes - days before seizing the city, said officials. | The militants were also apparently well-prepared for a possible siege, and had placed supplies in mosques and religious schools - which are off-limits for air strikes - days before seizing the city, said officials. |
| Military spokesman Lt Col Jo-ar Herrera told AFP news agency that these buildings contained at least a month's worth of food, as well as weapons such as machine guns. | |
| The gunman had also collected ammunition and provisions from the city after ransacking Marawi's jail and armouries, said presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella who was quoted in The Philippine Inquirer. | |
| When the conflict first broke out, officials had said fighters from the Maute group, linked to the so-called Islamic State, stormed the city after an attempt by Philippine troops to capture top militant Isnilon Hapilon. |