5 rebels, 2 soldiers die in clash in southern Philippines

Five members of the rebel group of Abu Sayyaf and two Philippine government soldiers have been killed and 28 other soldiers injured in the fighting in southern Philippine province of Basilan since Friday, military said on Saturday. "Updated report received from adjacent communities states that the ASG (Abu Sayyaf) sustained five killed and several others wounded," said Captain Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for the Philippine military's Western Mindanao Command. "Meanwhile, the government forces suffered 28 wounded in action and two killed in action," said Muyuela. She said the injuries inflicted on most of the wounded soldiers were caused by shrapnels. The wounded are now at Camp Navarro Hospital in Zamboanga City. "There were a lot of casualties (on the government side), however of them are slightly wounded caused by shrapnels," said Muyuela. The fighting broke out Friday dawn, ensuing more intense skirmishes. According to the military, the government forces launched the operation in response to the attempt by the group to extort money from a contractor pursuing a road project in the province. The Abu Sayyaf was founded in the 1990s and had since perpetrated a number of high-profile attacks, including kidnapping and bombing.