Militants free hostages

Horror war tales in Heroes’ Ward

MANILA, June 21, (Agencies): The Philippine military said Islamist militants fled from a primary school in the south on Wednesday, leaving behind 31 hostages unharmed, including 12 children, after a day-long gunbattle with troops.

There was no word of casualties in the incident at Pigcawayan town, which is about 190 kms (120 miles) south of Marawi City, where fighting between government troops and proIslamic State militants has entered its fifth week.

“The enemy made a hasty withdrawal, leaving behind 31 hostages, among them 12 youngsters,” Brigadier General Restituto Padilla told Reuters.

He said another 20 civilians who were trapped in the area because of the crossfire were also rescued.

Police said about 300 armed men from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) stormed the school early on Wednesday. Padilla, however, said later only about 50 militants were involved.

Military officials were initially not certain if any hostages were taken and whether they included children.

Community leaders in the area were called in to help in negotiations to rescue the hostages, Padilla said.

“It’s over ... but we’re also on guard because they might carry out other attacks,” said Padilla.

Abu Misry Mama, a spokesman for the BIFF, told Reuters that the militants had taken civilians to a safe place, away from any crossfire, and did not intend to hold them hostage.

Asked earlier if they would be freed, Mama said: “Yes. We’re not kidnappers.”

spread of influence of Islamic State, and fears it wants a foothold in Southeast Asia as it loses territory in the Middle East.

“The new criminal code adopts the principle of universality, which means that wherever an Indonesian citizen commits a crime, they can be legally processed in Indonesia,” said lawmaker Arsul Sani,

Sen

Barclay

Both Pigcawayan and Marawi are on the large southern island of Mindanao.

Some members of the BIFF have joined fighters from two more powerful Islamist factions, the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf, who occupied the town of Marawi a month ago and have been battling government forces there since.

Meanwhile, inside the “Heroes’ Ward” at a hospital in the Philippine capital, wounded soldiers read the Bible and recount horror stories of an unprecedented urban war against fighters linked to the Islamic State group.

A month of combat in the southern city of Marawi has claimed the lives of 62 troops and injured hundreds of others, while raising fears the Philippines has suddenly become a favourite new battleground for IS.

At the crowded Manila hospital ward, soldiers give harrowing examples of how the Philippine military — with little experience in urban warfare — were caught unprepared for their enemy’s tactics and brutality in house-to-house combat.

Marine Sergeant Sandy Benitez said he survived a battle that cost 13 other troops their lives by crawling for nearly five hours along a short stretch of street while trading fire with snipers, after a rocket-propelled grenade pierced his left foot.

“That was the worst firefight I’ve ever been in,” Benitez, a 13-year veteran who had previously battled Islamist militants on remote and mountainous southern islands, told AFP.

“Some of my wounded colleagues, they were losing hope and getting rattled. Some were crying.”

referring to terrorism. (RTRS)

Vetting of refugees nearly done:

US officials are “in the final stages” of vetting up to 1,250 refugees rejected by Australia for resettlement in the United States, an Australian official said Wednesday.

The refugees are among hundreds of asylum seekers — mostly from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka — who have been languishing for up to four years in immigration camps on the impoverished Pacific island nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton said US State and Homeland Security Department officials should be commended for their effective work with the Australian, Papua New Guinea and Nauru governments to fulfill a promise by President Barak Obama’s administration to take up to 1,250 refugees off Australia’s hands. (AP)