6 Extremists Slain in Clash in Philippines

Six members of the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, including a senior leader wanted by the United States, were killed Thursday in a clash with Philippine troops on the southern island of Basilan, officials said.

Hamsiraji Sali, one of five Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Washington in the deaths of two American hostages, was among the six killed in the town of Isabela, military spokesman Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said.

Four troops were wounded in the gunfight.

An official with the military’s Southern Command said a civilian tipped off the soldiers on the location of Sali’s group.

Washington has designated Abu Sayyaf -- notorious for kidnappings and beheadings -- as a terrorist group and has offered a $5-million reward for information leading to the capture of its top leaders, including chief Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani, Sali and three others.

They were implicated in the kidnapping of Americans Martin and Gracia Burnham and Guillermo Sobero in 2001.

The rebels beheaded Sobero, of Corona, Calif. In June 2002, Philippine soldiers rescued Gracia Burnham, but her husband and Philippine nurse Ediborah Yap were killed in the raid.

Ghalib Andang, another senior Abu Sayyaf leader who is not on the U.S. list but was recently arrested, told authorities that Sali had broken away from Janjalani’s group over disagreements about ransom money.

In previous calls to local media two years ago, Sali said the break was over contradicting views and goals. He said he wanted to surrender and cooperate with the government to help the civilian population of Basilan, where he was based.