Nearly 30 people have been killed in the southern Philippines in the heaviest fighting in months between troops and Muslim rebels, both sides said today.
The country's largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said its troops defended themselves when marines moved into their encampment on the island of Basilan yesterday, triggering a fierce nine-hour gunbattle.
"The incident could have been avoided if the government had coordinated with our forces in Basilan before they actually moved in," said Mohaqher Iqbal, the MILF's chief peace negotiator. "Our forces were attacked, we only defended ourselves."
Officials said the marines were trying to verify reports an Italian priest kidnapped on the mainland last month had been brought to Basilan when they encountered a large armed group.
About 50 marines and 300 Muslim rebels were involved in the fighting, Marine spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ariel Caculitan told reporters, adding four of the dead soldiers were beheaded.
The 300 rebels in the battle were initially believed to be mainly from the Abu Sayyaf group. The Abu Sayyaf is the smallest but deadliest of several Muslim groups fighting the Philippine government. The MILF is holding peace talks with the government, but many renegades have broken away and are continuing to fight.
"We were totally outnumbered and we had no time to recover enemy casualties but we have reports of dead and injured on their side," Lt Col Caculitan said. Other officials said at least 20 rebels were killed.
At least eight marines were killed, nine wounded and another six missing, Lt Col Caculitan said. Iqbal said the rebels lost four fighters and seven were wounded, but believed they had killed 25 soldiers, seized 27 assault rifles and destroyed two military trucks. Such conflicting accounts of tolls are common in the Philippines. But both versions indicate it was the single biggest battle in the restive southern Philippines for months.
The marines on Basilan were checking reports Giancarlo Bossi, an Italian priest kidnapped on the mainland last month, may have been taken there. There has been no word on the whereabouts of the priest since he was taken by armed men on June 10 thafter saying Sunday mass.