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| Philippines clashes leave 43 dead | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| At least 43 people - including 23 soldiers and 20 militants - have been killed in clashes in the southern Philippines, an army commander says. | At least 43 people - including 23 soldiers and 20 militants - have been killed in clashes in the southern Philippines, an army commander says. |
| Maj Gen Benjamin Dolorfino said 400 troops launched coordinated attacks on a camp belonging to Abu Sayyaf rebels on the southern island of Basilan. | |
| He said soldiers recovered home-made bombs and 13 high-powered firearms. | He said soldiers recovered home-made bombs and 13 high-powered firearms. |
| Fighting has ceased, but troops were combing the area to see if two targeted Abu Sayyaf chieftains had been killed. | Fighting has ceased, but troops were combing the area to see if two targeted Abu Sayyaf chieftains had been killed. |
| The rebel leaders were named as Khair Mundus and Furuji Indama by the Associated Press news agency, citing military officials. | |
| The Abu Sayyaf group was once linked to regional Islamist networks, but has recently become better known for criminal brutality and high-profile kidnappings, mostly targeting Christians and foreigners. | |
| In January, militants kidnapped three staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross. | |
| Two were freed in April, while the last hostage, 62-year-old Italian Eugenio Vagni, was released in July after being held for nearly six months. |