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MANILA,Philippines-Clashes between Philippine troops and suspected al-Qaida-linked militants have killed at least 52 people on volatile southern Jolo island, the military said Friday.The death toll included 25 soldiers and 27 militants, based on updated field reports, according to Maj. Eugene Batara, spokesman for the military's Western Mindanao Command.The military's initial report said 19 soldiers and one militant were killed.The fighting erupted Thursday when suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists ambushed a truck carrying troops headed to market, then fought a gunbattle with soldiers in pursuit,Another 10 soldiers and an undetermined number of militants were hurt, Batara said.He said the militant death toll was based on confirmed intelligence reports, but that the rebels carted away their dead and wounded.There were no reports of new clashes Friday.Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said about 100 insurgents were behind the Jolo attack and appeared to have been led by Radulan Sahiron, an elusive one-armed Abu Sayyaf commander long wanted by U.S. and Philippine authorities for his alleged role in several terror attacks.The military estimates that the Abu Sayyaf, which has been blamed for deadly bombings and high-profile ransom kidnappings and is on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, has about 300-400 guerrillas, down from more than 1,000 militants during its heyday in early 2000.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8QTT8P01&show_article=1&catnum=0
As in the days of Noah....
