Philippine troops killed six Islamic militants in an assault on a rebel camp in the south, the military says.It says marines raided the camp of the Abu Sayyaf group on Jolo island.
Officials are trying to verify reports that a senior Abu Sayyaf commander was among those killed, Gen Benjamin Dolorfino told AP news agency.
Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for bombings, beheadings and kidnappings of Filipinos and foreigners. It has been accused of links with al-Qaeda.
Gen Dolorfino said Sunday's raid was carried out after intelligence reports that two Abu Sayyaf leaders were there, AP reported.
One marine was killed and three were wounded during the assault.
Officials said the dead militants may have included a senior Abu Sayyaf figure, Albader Parad, who was wanted for the abduction of three Red Cross workers on the island last year.
Abu Sayyaf is the smallest and most radical of the Islamic separatist groups in the southern Philippines.
Its stated goal is an independent Islamic state in Mindanao and the Sulu islands. The government refuses to hold any form of talks with the rebels.
Philippine officials said in December 2009 that they had arrested an Abu Sayyaf founder - Abdul Basir Latip - who has allegedly been involved in kidnapping foreigners and Christians.
He has also been accused of forging links between Abu Sayyaf and other militant Islamist groups, such as Jemaah Islamiah and al-Qaeda.
