Two Marines killed in Philippine clash

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ZAMBOANGA, Philippines), July 17 (AFP): Two Philippine Marines were killed early Tuesday in a firefight with Islamic militants on the southern island of Jolo, the military said.
They were patrolling near the town of Patikul when they came under heavy fire from Abu Sayyaf militants.
It was not clear if there were any Abu Sayyaf casualties, the military said.
Last week, 14 Marines involved in a search for kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi were ambushed and killed on nearby Basilan island by members of another militant group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Ten of those killed were later mutilated and beheaded in the military's worst battlefield defeat in recent months.
The 12,000-strong MILF has claimed responsibility for the attack, but said the Marines provoked the fighting by entering its territory without prior notice as called for under a three- year truce.
It has also denied being involved in the kidnapping of Bossi, 57, who was snatched on June 10 near his parish church.