The Philippine military says fierce fighting has erupted between troops and Muslim militants on two southern islands, leaving at least five soldiers dead and scores wounded.

At least seven civilians, including four children, and an off-duty soldier were killed during a military operation against al-Qaida-linked militants on a southern Philippine island, officials said today.

GUNBATTLES between al-Qaida-linked guerrillas and the Philippine military in the south killed at least one marine and wounded 24 troops, the military said yesterday, as the country’s president said the government was on the verge of wiping out the militants.

An explosion inside a grocery shop killed at least eight people and wounded about a dozen others today on a violent southern island in the Philippines.

A trio of bombs jolted the Philippines today, killing at least three people and injuring at least 16 others.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today ruled out a combat role for US troops in the southern Philippines, despite a terrorist bombing in the area that killed 21 people and injured 148.

MUSLIM extremists linked to al-Qaida beheaded two of six Jehovah’s Witnesses they kidnapped in the southern Philippines and dumped their heads in a public market.

Muslim extremists beheaded at least two of six Jehovah’s Witnesses they kidnapped in the southern Philippines and dumped their heads in a public market, authorities said today.

At least five people are dead and dozens more were injured following two explosions in the Southern Philippines.

Thirteen people were killed in the Philippines after marines raided a muslim guerrilla camp in a southern jungle in the country.

A Muslim extremist group that snatched 20 people, including three Americans, from an island resort in the Philippines threatened today to kill all the hostages if the military moves attempt to rescue them.