Hundreds of armed followers of a jailed former Muslim rebel leader attacked government troops and occupied at least one army detachment on violent southern Jolo island on Monday, sparking clashes that killed at least 12 soldiers and wounded 15 others, military officials said. The attacks by about 500 followers of Nur Misuari in Jolo's Panamao and at least two other nearby towns were apparently touched off by a disagreement over recent military offensives against the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf that affected his strongholds, army Brig. Gen. Agustin Demaala said.
