Philippine President says skirmishes with militants ongoing
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says "we are in a state of emergency" and skirmishes with Muslim militants who attacked a southern city are continuing.
Speaking to reporters after returning to Manila from a visit to Moscow, Duterte repeated that he will deal with militants "harshly" after declaring martial law in the southern Mindanao region, home to a decadeslong Muslim separatist rebellion.
Duterte said he was forced to declare martial law in Mindanao for 60 days, and says his government may consider other areas in the event the militants and other Islamic State-affiliated groups seek sanctuary or expand their "terrorist activities." He mentioned the central Visayas region, where militants recently also launched attacks far from their southern strongholds.
He spoke as the fighting raged in Marawi city, where militants seized a priest, 10 worshippers and three church workers from a cathedral as they rampaged through the city.
