Sayyaf kills 6 soldiers in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Abu Sayyaf militants have killed six infantry soldiers, including an officer, in fierce clashes on Sunday in the restive province of Basilan in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, officials said.

The fighting, according to the officials, erupted in the village of Libug in Sumisip town, a known Abu Sayyaf stronghold in the province. The soldiers were patrolling the village when they engaged about 20 militants, sparking a running gunbattle that killed the soldiers belonging to the 64th Infantry Battalion.