MANILA (Reuters) - United States-trained army commandos on Thursday killed 14 militants belonging to the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the first major battle this year on a remote southern island, as the Philippines stepped up efforts to rescue foreign hostages.
The Abu Sayyaf is the smallest but most deadly of several Muslim groups fighting for independence in the south of the Roman Catholic country. It is estimated to have about 500 hard-core followers based mostly on Basilan and Jolo.
Update #1: 14 Abu Sayyaf members killed, 19 injured in S Philippines -- Xinhua
Update #2: Philippine Troops Attack 300 Abu Sayyaf Militants, 7 Killed -- NYT/AP
WNU Editor: The Philippines peace treaty with another Islamic group (the Moro Islamic Liberation Front) is now also starting to unravel .... Embattled Aquino Struggles to Salvage Philippines Peace Deal (Wall Street Journal).
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