Philippines: Troops fight Muslim militants in key city

Philippine troops clashed Wednesday with a top Muslim militant commander and dozens of fighters suspected of trying to seize a key predominantly Christian southern city in a daring attack the previous day that killed at least 13 people, reports from Manila said.

There was no news of casualties in the latest fighting between troops and more than 60 Abu Sayyaf gunmen led by Puruji Indama, a notorious militant whose brother was among the dead in Tuesday's coordinated attacks on the Basilan provincial capital of Isabela, said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino.

Dozens of Abu Sayyaf gunmen, many disguised as police commandos, detonated bombs and then opened fire on civilians and troops after their apparent plan to seize Isabela faltered as government forces fought back. It was one of the most daring attacks by the Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent al-Qaida-linked group blacklisted by Washington following two decades of deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. The Abu Sayyaf is suspected of having received training and funds from the notorious Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.

Citing intelligence and information from captured militants, Rear Adm. Alex Pama said Abu Sayyaf gunmen may have planned to explode bombs and take over key roads as they unleashed violence in Isabela by burning buildings, kidnapping people and springing jailed detainees. The well-funded plan was similar to the April 1995 attack on the Christian town of Ipil, also in the south, where the militants killed more than 50 people after robbing banks and stores and burning the town center.

Tuesday's death toll included three marines, a police officer and three militants, including Bensar Indama, the brother of militant leader Puruji Indama and whose body was found in a police uniform. Six civilians were killed in one residential area. Troops poured into the area overnight, sparking sporadic gun battles.

The Abu Sayyaf is the smaller of at least four Muslim groups fighting for decades for a separate homeland in the predominantly Catholic nation's south. The government has often dismissed the Abu Sayyaf as a bandit group crippled by relentless U.S.-backed military offensives.

- Asian Tribune -