Philippine troops kill 5 al-Qaeda-linked militants

Philippine government troops attacked an Abu Sayyaf camp in the rebels' southern stronghold before dawn Tuesday, triggering a five-hour clash in which five of the al-Qaeda-linked militants were killed and one government militiaman was wounded, the military said.

Major-General Benjamin Dolorfino said one of the dead was identified as Ridwan Musa - an Abu Sayyaf commander linked to a string of kidnappings. (AP)