Violent clashes leave 17 dead
Seventeen people have been killed in the latest clashes between the army and Muslim extremists in the Philippines.
Military officials say 16 rebels and a soldier died in the southern Sulu province. Eleven soldiers have also been wounded in the clash which led to the fall of three guerrilla encampments.
It is not known if the rebels are members of the gang which kidnapped 21 western tourists and Asian workers in April last year.
Some were released but about a dozen are still being detained.
