Fleeing Abu Sayyaf gunmen behind a failed plot to take over a southern city briefly seized five villagers Thursday to guide them away from a massive military manhunt, officials said. Seven Abu Sayyaf militants freed their captives after they pointed the way out of a rubber plantation in Lamitan township on Basilan island while the militants fled government troops who have pursued them for two days, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said. The militants also seized one villager in Lamitan Wednesday and used him as a guide before releasing him to continue their escape, he said. The seven were among dozens of Abu Sayyaf gunmen who set off bombs and then opened fire on civilians and troops after their apparent plan to seize Basilan's provincial capital of Isabela faltered Tuesday when government forces fought back. At least 15 people were killed in the daring siege, including three marines, a police officer and three militants. One of the slain militants was Abu Sayyaf commander Bensar Indama, the military said, adding that the rest of the dead were civilians who were shot by the militants. It was one of the most ambitious attacks by the Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent Al-Qaeda-linked group blacklisted by Washington following two decades of deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. Government troops were pursuing another group of militants, believed to be led by another commander, Puruji Indama, in a hinterland in Isabela's outskirts but have so far failed to capture him and his men. Puruji is the brother of Bensar, Dolorfino said. __
