WAR: Philippine Army Crushing Abu Sayyaf Terrorists On Jolo, page 1

5,000 Philippine troops have spent the last week attacking an estimated 800 terrorists on in the small southern Philippine island of Jolo. One general claims that the rebels have taken to the mountains and are making a final stand. Supporters of the rebels claim they are in high spirits and prepared to die fighting. The fighting has killed at least 90 so far, sixty of them rebels. As many as 12,000 civilians have evacuated the area.

news.bbc.co.uk
Up to 12,000 people have fled the fighting which has left about 90 soldiers and rebels dead.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 troops are fighting 800 militants in the heaviest fighting for years.

"There's heavy fighting going on in the Panamao and Luuk areas," said senior southern Philippines commander Lt Gen Alberto Braganza.

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Good for the Philippines. You can't have an army of cowards hiding in your outlying provinces and kidnapping defenseless people. It would be nice to see the back of this rebellion broken. Realistically though, I'm afraid this could be only the beginning of an indecisive period of escalation in the fight between government forces and Islamic militants.