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| Philippine military 'kills three wanted militants' | Philippine military 'kills three wanted militants' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Philippine military says it has killed three senior militants from al-Qaeda-linked groups in a raid in the south of the country. | The Philippine military says it has killed three senior militants from al-Qaeda-linked groups in a raid in the south of the country. |
| The air raid took place on Thursday in an area known as a militant stronghold. | The air raid took place on Thursday in an area known as a militant stronghold. |
| Officials said two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders and one Abu Sayyaf leader were among a total of 15 people killed. | Officials said two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders and one Abu Sayyaf leader were among a total of 15 people killed. |
| Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, or Marwan, who was on the US FBI's most wanted list with a $5m (£3.2m) reward offered for his capture, was reported killed. | Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, or Marwan, who was on the US FBI's most wanted list with a $5m (£3.2m) reward offered for his capture, was reported killed. |
| According to the military, the militants were killed in the town of Parang on Jolo island, Sulu province, in the Mindanao region. | According to the military, the militants were killed in the town of Parang on Jolo island, Sulu province, in the Mindanao region. |
| Regional military commander Maj Gen Noel Coballes told Agence France Presse news agency that troops on the ground had confirmed the deaths. | Regional military commander Maj Gen Noel Coballes told Agence France Presse news agency that troops on the ground had confirmed the deaths. |
| Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, is said to have had roles in attacks in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines over a span of several decades. | Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, is said to have had roles in attacks in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines over a span of several decades. |
| At one stage, he's thought to have fought the Soviets alongside Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, and been tutored by the bomb-making expert Azahari Husin, who like Marwan was a senior member of the regional group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). | At one stage, he's thought to have fought the Soviets alongside Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, and been tutored by the bomb-making expert Azahari Husin, who like Marwan was a senior member of the regional group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). |
| Azahari was killed in Indonesia 2005, and other high-profile Jemaah Islamiyah members are now dead or in jail, so in recent years Marwan had become one of the most wanted militants left in South East Asia. | Azahari was killed in Indonesia 2005, and other high-profile Jemaah Islamiyah members are now dead or in jail, so in recent years Marwan had become one of the most wanted militants left in South East Asia. |
| The island provinces of Sulu and Basilan, on the south-west tip of the Philippines, are known to harbour militants. It's a lawless area that's already home to several Philippine rebel groups - including the Abu Sayyaf - as well as kidnap and extortion gangs. | The island provinces of Sulu and Basilan, on the south-west tip of the Philippines, are known to harbour militants. It's a lawless area that's already home to several Philippine rebel groups - including the Abu Sayyaf - as well as kidnap and extortion gangs. |
| Marwan, a top JI leader, is said to have been behind a series of bomb attacks in the southern Philippines since 2006. | |
| The military identified the other two senior militants as Jemaah Islamiyah leader Abdullah Ali, aliases Muhamda Ali or Mauwiya, and an Abu Sayyaf leader, Gumbahali Jumdail alias Doc Abu. | |
| According to the FBI, Marwan is "an engineer trained in the US" and has conducted bomb-making activities for militant groups, especially Abu Sayyaf. | |
| Muawiya, also a top JI leader, is said to be a Singaporean national who came to the Philippines after the Bali bombings in 2002. A reward of $50,000 had been offered for his capture. | Muawiya, also a top JI leader, is said to be a Singaporean national who came to the Philippines after the Bali bombings in 2002. A reward of $50,000 had been offered for his capture. |
| JI has links to al-Qaeda and has a long track record of attacks in Indonesia. It is believed to have been behind the Bali bombings of 2002. | JI has links to al-Qaeda and has a long track record of attacks in Indonesia. It is believed to have been behind the Bali bombings of 2002. |
| Doc Abu, a Filipino, is said to be a regional Abu Sayyaf leader wanted for multiple kidnappings. Abu Sayyaf is one of the most radical of the Islamic separatist groups in the southern Philippines. | Doc Abu, a Filipino, is said to be a regional Abu Sayyaf leader wanted for multiple kidnappings. Abu Sayyaf is one of the most radical of the Islamic separatist groups in the southern Philippines. |
| A military spokesman told the BBC that the operation was ordered after reports that a group of militants had arrived in the area on 30 December. | A military spokesman told the BBC that the operation was ordered after reports that a group of militants had arrived in the area on 30 December. |
| The islands in the south-west Philippines are known to harbour various militant groups - some of which also operate as kidnap-for-ransom gangs, reports the BBC's Kate McGeown. | The islands in the south-west Philippines are known to harbour various militant groups - some of which also operate as kidnap-for-ransom gangs, reports the BBC's Kate McGeown. |
| Just this week, Abu Sayyaf is thought to have kidnapped two European tourists from the area. | Just this week, Abu Sayyaf is thought to have kidnapped two European tourists from the area. |