Zamboanga: Philippine police have rescued a government midwife kidnapped by al Qaeda-linked militants after a brief firefight on a southern island.
Sulu provincial police operations chief Amil Baanan says officers clashed early Thursday with the Abu Sayyaf fighters holding Evangeline Taverisma near Parang township on Jolo island.
Baanan says the militants escaped and abandoned Taverisma after a 10-minute gunbattle. Neither side suffered casualties.
The 55-year-old midwife was snatched Aug. 3 on her way home from a government clinic.
The Abu Sayyaf, notorious for beheadings, bombings and kidnappings, is on Washington`s list of terrorist groups. The militants are on the run from a US-backed military offensive, but are still able to attack civilian and military targets.
Bureau Report
