Decapitated bodies found

Marawi City: The decapitated bodies of five civilians have been found in a Philippine city occupied by Islamist rebels, the military said yesterday, warning the number of residents killed by rebel ‘‘atrocities’’ could rise sharply as troops retake more ground.

The discovery of the five victims among 17 other bodies retrieved would be the first evidence that civilians trapped in besieged Marawi City have been decapitated during the fiveweek stand by militants loyal to the Islamic State group, as some who escaped the city have reported.

The battle for Marawi entered its 36th day yesterday, with intense gunfights and bombing in the heart of the town and blackclad fighters seen running between buildings as explosions rang out. — Reuters