Philippine forces directed to neutralize Abu Sayyaf

Philippine securities forces were ordered to neutralize the terrorist Abu Sayyaf members responsible for the death of seven soldiers, including a military officer, a senior government official said Sunday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that dependents of those seven soldiers who were slain in Patikul, southern Philippine province of Sulu, last Thursday would be given assistance.

"The Marines are presently conducting follow-on law enforcement operations in coordination with the Philippine National Police ( PNP) to locate and neutralize the ASG elements in the area," he said at a state-run radio station.

Most of the government casualties were hit by enemy mortar fire, he added. Aside from the seven soldiers who were killed in separate encounters, 13 others were wounded.

Coloma said that at least 10 Abu Sayyaf members were killed in the clashes.

The Abu Sayyaf was founded in the 1990s and had since perpetrated a number of high-profile attacks, including kidnapping and bombing. The Philippine military estimates the Abu Sayyaf, which has links with international terrorist organizations, has about 400 members at present.