September 1, 2003, The Philippine Star, 3 Sayyaf suspects killed in clash,

September 1, 2003, The Philippine Star, 3 Sayyaf suspects killed in clash,

ZAMBOANGA CITY (AFP) — Government forces killed three Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in a clash on the southern Philippines island of Jolo, the military said yesterday. 

The clash occurred near the Sulu town of Patikul on Friday, said military spokesman Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias. Residents reported the rebel fatalities to the military, he said. 

A soldier was wounded in the clash, he said. 

The US government has branded the Abu Sayyaf, which is a Muslim guerrilla group, a "foreign terrorist organization." 

US Special Forces units are training Filipino troops fighting the rebels, whom Washington says have links to the al-Qaeda network of top terror suspect Osama bin Laden. 

The United States has also offered a five-million-dollar bounty for the top five leaders of the Abu Sayyaf, who are based mainly on the southern islands of Jolo and Basilan.