Manila: Philippine military officials say about 600 army soldiers are being deployed to hunt down gunmen who killed 10 soldiers last week in fierce clashes and ambuscades on southern Basilan island.
The military says a C-130 plane was used to transport the soldiers yesterday to Zamboanga city prior to their deployment to Basilan, where 10 soldiers were killed and several others were wounded by dozens of gunmen in clashes on Thursday.
At least four gunmen were believed killed in the clashes, one of the deadliest in the south in recent weeks.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the 11,000-strong rebel group engaged in peace talks with the government, urged the military to coordinate their offensives to avoid accidental clashes with its guerrilla forces in Basilan, where several armed groups have a presence.
PTI
