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| Jailbreak frees 31 in Philippines | Jailbreak frees 31 in Philippines |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A group of suspected Islamic militants have attacked a jail in the southern Philippines, freeing at least 31 prisoners, prison officials say. | A group of suspected Islamic militants have attacked a jail in the southern Philippines, freeing at least 31 prisoners, prison officials say. |
| Two people, including a prison guard, are believed to have been killed during a gunfight as the prisoners escaped. | Two people, including a prison guard, are believed to have been killed during a gunfight as the prisoners escaped. |
| Basilan island's Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul told the Associated Press the gunmen had wanted to free Muslim guerrillas held in the jail. | Basilan island's Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul told the Associated Press the gunmen had wanted to free Muslim guerrillas held in the jail. |
| He said other inmates had also escaped during the attack early on Sunday. | He said other inmates had also escaped during the attack early on Sunday. |
| Mr Sakalahul said about 30 gunmen had used sledgehammers to break through the jail's concrete perimeter wall before using bolt-cutters to cut through padlocks on cell doors. | |
| One of the prison guards was killed and another injured during the ensuing clash, provincial police chief Abubakar Tulawie told Reuters news agency. | One of the prison guards was killed and another injured during the ensuing clash, provincial police chief Abubakar Tulawie told Reuters news agency. |
| 'High-risk prisoners' | 'High-risk prisoners' |
| Regional military commander Maj Gen Benjamin Dolorfino told AP the 31 who escaped included suspected members of a Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf), and suspected militants from the Abu Sayyaf group. | Regional military commander Maj Gen Benjamin Dolorfino told AP the 31 who escaped included suspected members of a Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf), and suspected militants from the Abu Sayyaf group. |
| Two Milf rebels accused of beheading a dozen soldiers on Basilan island in 2007 were among them. | Two Milf rebels accused of beheading a dozen soldiers on Basilan island in 2007 were among them. |
| "Those two rebel leaders are high-risk prisoners," Mr Tulawie said. | "Those two rebel leaders are high-risk prisoners," Mr Tulawie said. |
| "We have organised a team together with the military units on the island to pursue them. | "We have organised a team together with the military units on the island to pursue them. |
| "We've started an internal inquiry to determine responsibility for the lax security in the jail." | "We've started an internal inquiry to determine responsibility for the lax security in the jail." |
| The escape came just hours before the country's Defence Secretary Norberto Gonzales was due to arrive on the island, which is 550 miles (880km) south of Manila. | The escape came just hours before the country's Defence Secretary Norberto Gonzales was due to arrive on the island, which is 550 miles (880km) south of Manila. |
| He is facing calls for emergency rule to be declared on the island because of Islamist violence. | He is facing calls for emergency rule to be declared on the island because of Islamist violence. |
| The jail, located in the provincial capital, Isabela city, has a history of jailbreaks. | The jail, located in the provincial capital, Isabela city, has a history of jailbreaks. |
| Three Abu Sayyaf militants escaped from the prison last year, while 16 prisoners broke out in 2007. | Three Abu Sayyaf militants escaped from the prison last year, while 16 prisoners broke out in 2007. |
| Five years ago, 53 inmates overpowered their guards using smuggled firearms and fled the prison. | Five years ago, 53 inmates overpowered their guards using smuggled firearms and fled the prison. |