简体中文
Troops in the southern Philippines say they have killed Isnilon Hapilon, the Abu Sayyaf militant seen as Islamic State group's leader in southeast Asia.
Hapilon, who is on the US list of "most wanted terrorists", was killed in Marawi along with another wanted militant, Omar Maute, the army said.
The city has been partly held by insurgents since a rebel attack in May.
The reported deaths came amid an army push to end the siege after months of fighting between troops and militants.
The region is home to a number of Muslim rebel groups, many of which have in recent years sought alliance with so-called Islamic State (IS).
"It will be just a matter of days before it will finally be declared that Marawi has been liberated from the clutches of terrorists," army chief of staff General Eduardo Ano told a news conference. "There will be no let up."
He held up photos of two bloodied faces he said were those of Hapilon and Maute, one of two brothers who head the region's Maute insurgency group.
Hapilon was shot in the head and Maute died of a chest wound during a night-time operation, officials said. A freed hostage tipped off the authorities about their whereabouts.
(BBC)
