2 Abu Sayyaf members killed, 6 others wounded in S. Philippines

At least two members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group were killed while six others, including a sub-leader, were wounded in a series of encounters with the government troops that sparked on Tuesday in southern Philippine province of Basilan, security official said on Wednesday.

The fighting initially erupted when government troops clashed with 25 Abu Sayyaf militants at about 11:00 a.m. in the village of Pamatsaken in Sumisip town, said Navy Ensign Chester Ramos, information officer of Task Group Zambasulta, a joint military unit pursuing the Abu Sayyaf group.

Ramos said the militants under leader Juhaibel Alamsirul alias Abu Kik retreated with suspected casualties following the brief firefight.

Pursuing troops on clearing operation later engaged the same group in the nearby village of Baiwas after they were fired by the Abu Sayyaf snipers.

Ramos said the exchange of sniper's fire lasted briefly with the Abu Sayyaf retreating anew, but succeeded encounter as the troops caught up the Abu Sayyaf group that massed up to 50 followers and triggered almost two hours of firefight.

The government troops were immediately provided with airstrike by Philippine Air Force (PAF) attack helicopters and artillery support that dislodged the position of the Abu Sayyaf.

The 400-strong Abu Sayyaf Group, founded in the early 1990s by Islamic extremists, is a violent Muslim terrorist group operating in the southern Philippines. The ASG is notorious for a series of kidnappings, bombings and even beheadings in southern Philippines over the past decades. Endi