By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines

The Philippines' military has captured 14 suspected members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militant group in southern Sulu province, where a clash last week left five soldiers and ten insurgents dead.

Army spokesperson Captain Rowena Muyuela said Wednesday they had not identified the 12 men and two women, who were unarmed when military patrols were discovered them in Talipao town at 11.20 (05.20 Turkish time) Tuesday.

Last Friday, soldiers conducting law enforcement operations encountered around 200 members of the Abu Sayyaf led by Commander Radula Sahiron, prompting a five-hour gun battle.

Senior leaders of the group were among the dead, according to a military statement, which did not said if Sahiron was among the casualties.

Sahiron is described in military reports as a one-armed, horse-riding rebel leader who reportedly took control of the Abu Sayyaf following the death of Khadaffy Janjalani in September 2006.

According to military figures, 28 soldiers and 30 Abu Sayyaf members were wounded in the fighting.

The suspects captured Tuesday, who could not give an exact reason for being in the area, have been handed to the national police to determine their links to the group.

The military is carrying out strict law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, a stronghold of the group, following its release of two German captives last month.

Earlier this month, the group ambushed and killed six soldiers in Basilan - an incident that coincided with the arrival of U.S. ambassador Philip S. Goldberg in Zamboanga City to launch a USAID program.

Since 1991, Abu Sayyaf has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.

It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid and continues to hold foreigners, including two European nationals, in the predominantly Muslim south.

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