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Philippine 'Friendly Fire' Kills 11 Soldiers in Marawi Fight

by Associated Press

   MARAWI, PHILIPPINES --

   A Philippine military official says an air force airstrike killed 11
   soldiers and wounded seven others in a "friendly fire" incident as
   government forces struggled to rout the remaining Islamic extremists
   who laid siege to a southern city for a week.
   Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said Thursday a
   Marchetti S-211 jet was on a bombing run over militant positions in
   Marawi city Wednesday when one bomb hit an army position locked in
   close-range combat with the extremists.
   Padilla says the plane made three successful bombing runs before the
   wayward bombing happened. He added the military has ordered an
   investigation.