Three soldiers killed in clash with Islamist militants in Philippines
Manila - Three soldiers are dead and 17 wounded after a firefight with suspected Islamist militants in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Sunday.
The clash erupted as troops launched an offensive against about 150members of the Abu Sayyaf group on Saturday in the town of Patikul on the island of Jolo, said Major Filemon Tan.
Three Abu Sayyaf leaders were with the militants during the fighting, but there was no information as to whether they were hurt in the hostilities, Tan said.
The military conducted air strikes to support the ground troops during the clash, he added.
Abu Sayyaf is holding captive several hostages on Jolo, including a70-year-old German man who was abducted from his yacht off the southern province of Tawi-Tawi on November 5.The German's wife, who tried to fight back, was found dead on the boat.
The militants have demanded 5 million pesos (102,040 dollars) in ransom for his release.
Aside from kidnappings of foreign hostages, Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for some of the Philippines' worst terrorist attacks.
Earlier this year, the group beheaded two Canadian hostages seized from the southern island of Samal last year. However, it freed other captives after ransom money was allegedly paid.
