Philippine police commandos have killed an Abu Sayyaf commander linked to last year’s kidnapping of Red Cross workers and gunned down two other militants in a clash that erupted while they were looking for a Malaysian militant.

A bomb-rigged motorcycle exploded today near a convoy carrying the governor of a southern Philippine island where al-Qaida-linked rebels are active, wounding a mayor and at least three security escorts.

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.

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