Notorious Muslim rebel commander killed in southern Philippines

Notorious Muslim rebel commander killed in southern PhilippinesZamboanga City, Philippines  - A notorious commander of the Philippines' largest Muslim separatist rebel group has been killed in a clash with government troops, an army spokesman said Sunday.

Kiddie Abdulsalam, a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), had been responsible for several kidnapping-for-ransom incidents and bomb attacks in the southern Philippines.

He was killed Saturday afternoon in a firefight with government soldiers in Kabasalan town in Zamboanga Sibugay province, 810 kilometres south of Manila, said Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner.

Brawner said the soldiers were serving an arrest warrant against Abdulsalam when the fighting erupted.

Abdulsalam was facing kidnapping charges for the abduction of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in June 2007. He was also behind the kidnapping of Italian priest Guiseppe Pierantoni in 2001.

Both priests were freed unharmed after ransom was allegedly paid.

Brawner said Abdulsalam was also behind a bomb attack outside an air force base in nearby Zamboanga City in May, which killed three people and injured 18.

The MILF, which has been fighting for a separate Islamic state in the southern region of Mindanao since 1978, had disowned Abdulsalam and condemned his activities.

Peace talks with the government were suspended last year due to disagreements over a proposed Muslim homeland. (dpa)

Regions: