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| Philippines gunmen seize students | Philippines gunmen seize students |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Armed men have abducted dozens of students and a teacher in the southern Philippines, officials say. | Armed men have abducted dozens of students and a teacher in the southern Philippines, officials say. |
| A military spokesman said 65 people had been seized at a school in Agusan del Sur province on Mindanao island. | A military spokesman said 65 people had been seized at a school in Agusan del Sur province on Mindanao island. |
| Officials are reportedly trying to negotiate the release of the hostages from up to 20 gunmen, who were described as bandits. | |
| There is no indication it is linked to unrest on the other side of Mindanao, where 57 people were killed last month. | There is no indication it is linked to unrest on the other side of Mindanao, where 57 people were killed last month. |
| Thursday's kidnappings took place in an area where communist rebels are known to operate. | Thursday's kidnappings took place in an area where communist rebels are known to operate. |
| But it is not known if the incident near the town of Prosperidad on the eastern coast of Mindanao is related to the four-decades long insurgency. | But it is not known if the incident near the town of Prosperidad on the eastern coast of Mindanao is related to the four-decades long insurgency. |
| Army spokesman Maj Michelle Anayron told AFP news agency a "criminal gang" was responsible. | Army spokesman Maj Michelle Anayron told AFP news agency a "criminal gang" was responsible. |
| Agusan del Sur Vice-Governor Santiago Cane told AP news agency 19 bandits fleeing the authorities had seized the residents to use as human shields. | Agusan del Sur Vice-Governor Santiago Cane told AP news agency 19 bandits fleeing the authorities had seized the residents to use as human shields. |
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