Filipino marines battle Muslim militants (3 p.m.)
MANILA — A military official says two Muslim guerrillas have been killed and 10 Philippine marines wounded in a fierce clash.
The clash started when two rebel groups joined forces to attack a military detachment and a convoy of reinforcement troops in Mindanao.
The fighting between the marines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas on Basilan island erupted after dawn Sunday.
The clash came amid an ongoing withdrawal of Malaysian peacekeepers, who have helped stop such violence from raging out of control before.
Philippine marines commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said the MILF force was backed by Abu Sayyaf extremist rebels with links to al-Qaida. (AP)
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