MANILA, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - Four naval commandos and six suspected Muslim extremists have been killed in fresh fighting in the southern Philippines, the military said Tuesday.

Two other members of a naval special operations group were wounded in the fighting early Tuesday on the island of Lanhil, said navy spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Caculitan.

The troops had gone to the island off Basilan after receiving information that an armed group was there, he said.

MANILA, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - A Muslim extremist linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) has been arrested in the western Philippine island of Palawan after fleeing a military offensive in the south, the military said Friday.

The Philippine military chief of staff, General Hermogenes Esperon, confirmed to reporters that Abu Moguera, an alleged Filipino associate of Bali bomber Dulmatin, was arrested in Palawan.

MANILA, Aug 21, 2007 (AFP) - The Philippine government said Tuesday it had suspended peace talks with Muslim insurgents, saying it needed more time, and insisting the move was not linked to a military operation in the restive south.

The talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has been waging an insurgency for decades in the southern Philippines, had been due to resume in Malaysia on Wednesday.

'I need more time to clarify some things,' said government negotiator Rodolfo Garcia, who requested the delay.

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Aug 18, 2007 (AFP) - Sixteen troops and dozens of Muslim extremists were killed Saturday in clashes between government forces and Al-Al Qaeda-linked rebels on the southern island of Basilan, the military said.

Nine soldiers were also wounded in the fighting that broke out in the jungle when Marines launched an attack on a rebel camp, said military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro.

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Aug 18, 2007 (AFP) - A Philippine military helicopter crashed Saturday during a clash with Al Al Qaeda-linked Muslim extremists in the south, killing the pilot, a military spokesman said.

The spokesman, air force chief Lieutenant General Horacio Tolentino, denied earlier reports from military sources that the MG-520 went down after the pilot was shot by enemy fire.

Tolentino said the helicopter crashed off the coast of Basilan island after unexplained vibrations, adding: 'It was not fired upon. It was not hit.'

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Aug 18, 2007 (AFP) - Muslim extremists on Saturday shot down a Philippine military helicopter during clashes in the country's restive south, killing the pilot, military sources said.

The sources said the pilot of the MG-520 helicopter was fatally hit by enemy fire as the aircraft was reinforcing ground troops attacking a camp used by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, the sources said.

The co-pilot of the helicopter was rescued unharmed by a naval vessel, the military said.

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Aug 18, 2007 (AFP) - Thirteen troops and dozens of Muslim extremists were killed Saturday in clashes between government forces and Al-Al Qaeda-linked rebels on the southern island of Basilan, the military said.

Nine soldiers were also wounded in the fighting that broke out in the jungle when Marines launched an attack on a rebel camp, said military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro.

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Aug 18, 2007 (AFP) - Philippine troops fought new clashes with Al-Al Qaeda-linked rebels on the southern island of Basilan on Saturday, local and military officials said.

Soldiers clashed with members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the town of Tipo-tipo, local officials in the area said.

A military official confirmed that fighting had broken out but said they were still trying to confirm if there were any casualties.

MANILA, Aug 14, 2007 (AFP) - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo met her top security advisers Tuesday, officials said, as troops continued an offensive against Islamic militants in the country's restive south with US help.

The meeting about the offensive involving more than 12,000 Philippine soldiers on Jolo and Basilan islands focused on how to achieve a lasting peace, the officials said.

The heavily armed soldiers, backed by helicopter gunships, are hunting members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Bartolome Bacarro said.

JOLO, Philippines, Aug 13, 2007 (AFP) - The Philippine military launched a new offensive against Muslim militants in the restive south of the country on Monday, President Gloria Arroyo announced.

Arroyo insisted the offensive was aimed only at militants and that her government would seek to avoid a wider war and would make efforts to minimise civilian casualties.