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Suspected Militants Kill 11 in Southern Philippines

   VOA News 27 February 2010

   Military  officials  in  the Philippines say suspected al-Qaida-linked
   militants  have  raided a village in the southern part of the country,
   killing at least 11 people.
   Authorities   say  Abu  Sayyaf  gunmen  attacked  a  civilian  militia
   detachment  early  Saturday  in  the  village of Tubigan on the island
   province of Basilan.
   The  military  said  the villagers were asleep when the rebels started
   spraying houses with automatic gunfire and setting them on fire.
   Officials  say  10  civilians  and  a member of the local militia were
   killed.   At least 17 people, including four children, were wounded by
   gunfire and blazes.
   Officials  said army reinforcements were immediately sent to the area,
   but the attackers had fled.
   The military is searching for the attackers.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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