Fighting with extremists has sent thousands of people fleeing

MARAWI, Philippines - Army tanks packed with soldiers rolled into a southern city on Thursday to try to restore control after Islamic State-linked militants launched a violent siege that sent thousands of people fleeing for their lives.

At least 21 people have died in fighting that erupted on Tuesday, when the army raided the Marawi hideout of Isnilon Hapilon, who is on Washington's list of most-wanted terrorists and has a $5 million bounty on his head.

But the operation quickly went wrong. Militants called in reinforcements and swept through the streets, torching buildings, taking hostages and sealing off much of the city to the outside world.

There was no immediate word on Hapilon's whereabouts, but there was no indication he had been captured.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared 60 days of martial law on Tuesday across the southern third of the nation, an area that includes Marawi but extends well beyond it. Mindanao is home to 22 million people.

Duterte also warned that he may expand marital law nationwide.

Much of Marawi was still a no-go zone on Thursday. Automatic gunfire and explosions could be heard in the distance and plumes of black smoke rose from the direction of the city center. Air force helicopters swooped overhead.

"At night we can hear the gunfire," said Mohammad Usman, 49, who was among thousands of residents streaming out of the city, jamming their belongings into cars. "I'm just praying that the bullets will not find its way to my house and hit us. I hope that the bombs will not land nearby and harm us."

Even though much of the city was sealed off, disturbing details were emerging.

Duterte said a local police chief was stopped at a militant checkpoint and beheaded. Military chief of staff General Eduardo Ano said the militants erected IS flags at several locations. And Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Pena said the militants forced their way into the Marawi Cathedral and seized a priest, 10 worshippers and three church workers.

Hapilon, a preacher known for his expertise in commando assaults, pledged allegiance to the IS group in 2014. He is a commander of the Abu Sayyaf militant group and was wounded by a military airstrike in January.

Another, smaller militant group the Maute was also involved in the Marawi siege. The Maute is one of less than a dozen new armed militant groups that have pledged allegiance to the IS and formed a loose alliance, with Hapilon reportedly designated as its leader.

Xinhua - Ap - Reuters

(China Daily 05/26/2017 page11)