Day-long clashes between roops and suspected militants in the southern Philippines killed 10 soldiers and nine fighters and injured 23, dpa quoted a military spokesman as saying Friday. Eight army rangers and four suspected militants were killed after hostilities began early Thursday at Sumisip town in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila, Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang said. Militants later attacked an army outpost and ambushed two groups of troops, triggering fighting that killed two more soldiers and five militants, he said from his base in Zamboanga City. A total of 16 soldiers and reportedly seven militants were wounded in the attacks, he said.
