Six RP soldiers die in fighting

Six RP soldiers die in fighting

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (Reuter): Philippine warplanes yesterday pounded a Moslem guerrilla stronghold with rockets and bombs after the rebels shot dead six soldiers and wounded 10 others in fierce fighting, the military said.

It said 15 guerrillas died in the military offensive on southern Basilan Island aimed at rescuing a kidnapped Roman Catholic priest and destroying a major base of the Moslem fundamentalist Abu Sayyaf group.

"It was really fierce fighting. This morning we had to use all available firepower to loosen up the pressure and enable our troops to finally assault their area," southern commander Lt. Gen. Orlando Soriano told reporters.

Ground units attacking in the hilly terrain around Sampinit town were being supported by helicopters firing rockets and OV-10 Bronco counter-insurgency aircraft loaded with 250-pound bombs, military sources said.

Field commanders said the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas had decided to make their last stand in Sampinit and were fighting from trenches.