MANILA, Philippines — Philippine troops have clashed with Muslim militants in what the military says is an operation to foil a plot to bomb cities in the volatile southern Philippines. One soldier was killed in the clash.
Basilan province’s army commander, Col. Carlito Galvez, says troops engaged about 70 Abu Sayyaf fighters on Thursday based on information that they were manufacturing bombs to be used in attacks at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The fighting comes on the heels of a two-week bombing spree in the south that left 16 people dead and about 100 wounded.
Officials have blamed a little-known Al-Qaida-inspired group for a July 26 bombing at a crowded bar that killed eight people, and said the other bombings could be attributed to terrorism or personal feuds.