Kidnapper killed by security forces

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.

National police chief Jesus Verzosa said today that he placed his entire force in southern Mindanao region on full alert to brace for any retaliatory attack following the Saturday night killing of Gafur Jumdail and two of his men in southern Maimbung town on Jolo island.

The death of Jumdail, who had been linked to several high-profile abductions, including the January 2009 kidnappings of three Red Cross workers from Switzerland, Italy and the Philippines, is the latest blow against the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf.