15 Dead After Philippine Troops Clash With Islamist Militants

Philippine troops clashed on Tuesday with Islamist militants on a remote southern island and 15 people were killed as security forces step up an offensive against rebels who beheaded a Malaysian captive, an army spokesman said.

Militants from the Abu Sayyaf group had steered clear of government troops on the islands of Jolo and Basilan since the beheading of a Malaysian restaurant owner last month.

The al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, known for kidnappings, beheadings and bombings, are one of the most brutal Muslim rebel factions in the Muslim south of the largely Christian Philippines.

Army troops killed 13 rebels in the gun battle that erupted at 5 p.m. (4 a.m. EDT) in the jungles near the town of al Barka on Basilan island, army spokesman Filemon Tan said. Two soldiers were also killed and 10 were wounded, he added.

Although soldiers had been in the area since Sunday, Tan said, "It was only today when the fighting got bigger."

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