Clashes continue in Sulu, Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A soldier died as sporadic clashes between the military and Abu Sayyaf forces continued on Friday in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan, where militants are holding captive at least 10 foreigners in the restive Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the fighting, which began on July 3, but on Thursday, troops battled with about 130 gunmen under Radulan Sahiron in the village of Kabuntakas in Patikul town in Sulu, where a soldier died and six troopers were wounded.