Manila - Seven Philippine soldiers were killed and 21 injured, Thursday (29, 7, 2011), more heavy fighting in recent months between Government forces and the Al Qaeda network activists linked on a desert island in the South of the country.
Main victims was also on the part of militants in the Abu Sayyaf group when presented army unexpectedly at their main base on Jolo Island, said Lieutenant-Colonel Randolph Cabangbang. "We have sent the helicopters to provide air support and to evacuate the victims of the United States," said Cabangbang told journalists. He added, the fight against the militants for five hours before being colonised steward of their base.
"Our forces are chasing a small group of armed men who had been held prisoner when the soldiers realize that they base the main Abu Sayyaf.". It causes why our casualties occurred. »
The Abu Sayyaf group, with an estimated force of approximately 300 people, a small group, but the deadliest of a number of Muslim militant groups are fighting the Philippine Government. Since 2002, the US Army has helped train Filipino troops to fight militants and the strength of the Abu Sayyaf is greatly decreased in recent years.
Cabangbang said, there are about 70 rebels on the basis of the activists, which is located near the town of Patikul, which became the headquarters of the militant leader Radullan Isnilon Hapilon and Saheron. A number of Indonesia and Malaysia is believed to be militants once there, he said. "We hit the nerve centre of the activists, so there is resistance," said Cabangbang.
Saheron and Hapilon are in the list includes the U.S. Department of State because of the involvement of the two men were assassinations and kidnappings, including three International Committee of the Red Cross workers in 2009 and a pair of American missionaries in 2001.
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