This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8198684.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Philippines clashes leave 43 dead | Philippines clashes leave 43 dead |
| (about 5 hours 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 co-ordinated 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 (AP) news agency, citing military officials. | |
| 'Slugfest' | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The troops "launched a decisive law enforcement operation targeting the Abu Sayyaf's main training camp in the province", said army spokeswoman Lt Steffani Cacho. | |
| She said "sizeable quantities" of bombs were found, some already "rigged to explode". | |
| The army's losses are the highest in a single day's combat for some years. | |
| The fighting was a "slugfest", said Maj Gen Dolorfino. "It was really close-quarter fighting so we couldn't use our artillery," he told AP. |