Eight people were killed as soldiers, backed by artillery, battled with Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines, military officials said Wednesday. According to the military, two soldiers and six rebels have been killed in the clashes which broke out Tuesday near the town of Ungkaya Pukan on Basilan island.
The fighting came just a day after a private helicopter, delivering supplies to US military advisers, was fired upon while flying over Basilan, resulting in injury to one of the passengers.
The military could not confirm whether Tuesday's fighting was related to the helicopter shooting. Tuesday's fighting broke out after Muslim gunmen from the Abu Sayyaf group and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked a military patrol, said Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Teodoro. About five troops and seven Muslim gunmen were also wounded in the fighting which was so fierce the military had to call in artillery for support, he said.