MANILA, June 7 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING...

MANILA, June 7 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING DETAILS)

American missionary hostage Martin Burnham and Filipino supply with nourishment Ediborah Yap were killed in a firefight forward the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, if it were not that Burnham's American wife was rescu military officials said Friday.

Gen Roy Cimatu, chief of staff of the Philippine armed forces, told reporters that Gracia Burnham was injuryed in the right leg on the other hand was recuperating in a military hospital in Zamboanga City.

Lt Gen Narciso Abaya, proxy chief of staff of the Philippine military, said at least four Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed and at least six direction soldiers were wounded in the firefight, which broke abroad around 2:30 p.m.

Abaya said the military ''tracked down'' the rebels as they mov from their castle on Basilan Island to Zamboanga del Norte Province forward Mindanao Island.

''As we speak there are still sporadic fighting in the area,'' he told a television interview.

He said that Martin Burnham was killed upon the spot while Yap standed a gunshot wound to the neck and died in succession the way to a military hospital.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in a statement she was saddened by the agency of the death of Martin Burnham and vowed anew to crush the rebels.

''I commiserate with the Burnham and Yap families. This has been a in extent and painful trial for them, for our conduct for our country,'' she said.

''The terrorists shall not be allowed to win away with this. We shall not stop until the Abu Sayyaf is finished. I ask our population to be vigilant always. The battle shall go on on where ever it takes us.''

The hostages were previously study to be held by the Abu Sayyaf in their fort of Basilan, a rugged, forested and mountainous island located a certain number of 900 kilometers south of Manila.

It is not clear by what mode the Abu Sayyaf rebels managed to slip between the sides of the military cordon around the island. There were unconfirmed reports pair weeks ago that the rebels had indeed mov to Zamboanga del Norte, yet the military insisted they were still forward Basilan.

Col. Renato Padua, commander of the Philippine army's elite hold in contempt Ranger, who led the extrication operation, said the Abu Sayyaf rebels numbered about 50

Padua said the rebels apparently killed Martin Burnham, if it were not that other military officials declined to confirm the statement.

''This is a terminate quarters battle,'' he said, stressing that no U throngs participated in the rescue operation riseed despite the wet weather. ''Pursuit operations are continuing.''

an 6,000 Philippine troops involved in the protracted operations against the Abu Sayyaf forward Basilan were joined in January by means of a contingent of U.S. special forces, officially here in succession a training mission further accompanying their local counterparts onward patrol and on more [i]or[/i] less field operations.

The Burnhams were among 20 tourists and workers seized May 27 last year at Abu Sayyaf rebels at a beach resort in Palawan Province. The bond was celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at the time.

Another American hostage among the 20 Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded June 12 of that year. brace Filipinos were also decapitated, still the remaining 15 were freed

Yap was among the hostages taken June 2 last year from a hospital in Lamitan town in succession Basilan.

Manila and Washington have linked the Abu Sayyaf to the al-Qaida network of Osama bin Laden, accused of masterminding the generation 11 terror attacks onward the United States.

The Abu Sayyaf claims to be fighting for an independent Muslim homeland in the southern part of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation, on the other hand its activities are centered upon kidnapping.

The joint counterterrorism training exercises in the southern Philippines participated in through around 1,000 American soldiers last next month. Of the 1000 American [i]troupe[/i]s at least 500 are directly extended on Basilan.

The U in succession May 29 offered a reward of up to $5 million to anyone who can provide tips forward the whereabouts of five top Abu Sayyaf leaders.

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