At least 27 people were killed today when followers of detained Muslim leader Mr Nur Misuari clashed with government forces in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, the military said.
Twenty-five Misuari followers, a soldier and a civilian were killed, and the rest of the gunmen fled with civilian hostages, Brig Gen Edilberto Adan told reporters.
The gunmen fired mortars and machine guns from a government hilltop complex where they had been since last week after a failed revolt by Mr Misuari in nearby Jolo island that left over 100 people dead last week.
Military gunships and airplanes bombed the complex and ground troops surrounded the area by noon to besiege the renegade members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
But the gunmen broke out with their mainly Christian hostages and marched on the road toward a park some six kilometres away to rejoin another MNLF group there.
Two women and nine children were freed, but the gunmen are still holding "40 hostages, including children," a military official said. "There are still skirmishes" in other Zamboanga areas, he said.
AFP