Manila (AsiaNews / Agencies) - At least 14 Islamists were killed and 19 others wounded in the clashes, which began yesterday morning, between the Philippine army and the Abu Sayyaf (ASG) militia in the province of Sulu, southern Philippines, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
According to military sources, two government soldiers were killed and 16 others were injured in the course of a battle that saw 300 militias opposing a joint operation by the Filipinos Rangers and Special Forces.
The fighting broke out yesterday and
continued into this morning around the town of Patikul, located in a
mountainous area of the province of Sulu.
Rowena
Muyuela, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said that sporadic
fighting followed throughout the day.
Meanwhile, government forces are pushing ahead with their offensive against the terrorist group, responsible for past kidnappings, bombings and beheadings in the archipelago.
The Sulu archipelago consists of hundreds of islands in the strait that separates the Philippines from Malaysia. Over the years it has become one of the strongholds of the Philippine Abu Sayyaf terrorist movement close to al-Qaeda and responsible for several attacks, including the attack on the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jolo, on December 25, 2010 during Christmas celebrations.
The Abu Sayyaf militias are the smallest group in number, but the most dangerous and bloodthirsty among Muslim movements that are fighting for the independence of the southern Philippines, the only Asian nation with a large Christian Catholic majority.
There are approximately 500 members of the group, concentrated around Basilan and Jolo. The group is closely linked with Jemaah Islamiah, a pan-Asian radical movement responsible for attacks in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali bombing that cost the lives of over 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.