Zamboanga City, Philippines  - Eight people were killed Thursday when government troops raided a hideout of Muslim militants holding captive an Italian Red Cross worker in the southern Philippines, the military said.

Navy spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo said marines raided a hideout of Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels in Indanan town on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, at dawn, triggering a clash with around 100 guerrillas.

Two marines were killed, while four were wounded, he said.

"The rebels suffered at least six dead and an undetermined number of wounded," he added. "The number may rise after clearing operations. Meanwhile, combat operations are still ongoing."

Arevalo said the rebels were led by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail, who were with Jemaah Islamiyah operative Omar Patek.

He said Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni was not with the group of rebels.

"They must have moved him," he said. "They know we were building up intelligence information against them and they know they can't keep him in one place."

Vagni was abducted on January 15 with two other colleagues after inspecting a water and sanitation project in the Jolo provincial jail. His two colleagues - a Swiss and a Filipino - were freed separately in April. (dpa)