The Philippines fighting continues with ISIL: more than 100 dead
Fears are growing for residents trapped in besieged Philippine city of Marawi, after reports that those who fled from fighting ISIS and government forces, saw around 100 dead bodies.
Marawi, in the southern island of Mindanao, is under siege for several weeks after the invasion of Islamic militants, loyal to the commander of the Abu Sayyaf in may.
"Witnesses told us that the estimated number of dead bodies scattered around the impact zone, more (or) less than a hundred," said the Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, stressing that the reports were not verified. The number of deaths "should be checked, but your search has no access to these areas, where there is an intense exchange of fire". It is "the words of the witnesses, trapped residents who were able to walk through the countryside, crossing the bridge," he said.
From the reports it was unclear whether the bodies of civilians or militants killed in clashes when government forces fought for control restoration over the last quarters, which are still under the control of Abu Sayyaf and Mouth. According to a source 207 of the militants were killed, 58 government troops were killed. 1619 were saved civilians.
Correspondent from Mindanao, who spent the last 3 weeks in Marawi, described the once prosperous town as "Ghost town". According to him, the city remains only a handful of residents. Large areas of Marawi, especially the commercial area of the city, "devastated" by government bombing. On Monday, the mayor said that about 1,000 civilians were trapped in the city.
We will remind, on may 23, gunmen entered the city, faced with government troops and prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.
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