52 killed in Philippines clashes

Clashes between troops and suspected al-Qaida linked militants have killed at least 52 people on volatile southern Jolo island, the Philippines military said today.

The death toll included 25 soldiers and 27 militants. The clashes began yesterday when suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists ambushed a truck carrying troops headed to get supplies, then fought a gun battle with soldiers in pursuit, Maj. Eugene Batara said.

Another 10 soldiers and an undetermined number of militants were wounded, Batara told The Associated Press by telephone from the southern city of Zamboanga.

He said the militants’ death toll was based on confirmed intelligence reports. Soldiers recovered five bodies of dead militants, but the rebels carted away the rest of their dead and wounded, he added.

There were no reports of new clashes today.

The military said late yesterday that 19 soldiers were killed – nine in the ambush and 10 in a clash between troops pursuing the extremists. Batara said details of how six more soldiers died were not clear, but that one was wounded in the ambush and died later.

The military estimates that the Abu Sayyaf, which has been blamed for deadly bombings and high-profile ransom kidnappings, has about 300 to 400 guerrillas, down from more than 1,000 during its heyday in early 2000.

Batara said the earlier ambush was not an indication that the Abu Sayyaf has regained strength following setbacks dealt by a massive US-backed offensive last year that led to the killing of its top two leaders.