Philippine troops backed by attack helicopters battled dozens of Islamist militants holed up in a besieged southern city on Thursday.
The army sent about 100 soldiers, including U.S.-trained special forces, to retake buildings and streets in the mainly Muslim city of Marawi, rampaged earlier this week by militants of the Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to the self-styled Islamic State.
The militants occupied parts of the city on Tuesday, prompting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the entire Mindanao island, the country's second-largest.
The battle started with a failed attempt by security forces to arrest some Maute fighters. Seven government troops and 13 militants had been killed since Tuesday, according to the army. The status of the hostages was not immediately clear, neither was the number of civilians hurt in the fighting.
Hundreds of civilians, including children, have taken shelter at a makeshift evacuation camp in Marawi, where the militants - who have pledged allegiance to ISIL - had also taken Christians hostage and set free more than 100 prisoners from two jails.
Hostilities had eased overnight but flared again later on Thursday morning when troops advanced towards a strategic bridge held by Maute fighters.
Philippine troops battle Islamist militants, who are holding Catholic hostages, in southern city of Marawi https://t.co/ks0QGpOvt6 pic.twitter.com/bEWBKxwZM1- AFP news agency (@AFP) May 25, 2017
Concerns over human rights
Authorities have not reported any civilian casualties but the GMA television network showed images of nine people who had apparently been shot dead. The victims had their hands tied together.
Marawi has about 200,000 residents but many of them have fled because of the fighting.
Marawi mayor Majul Gandamra said some rebels from the Maute were still holed up in buildings and sporadic gunfire could be heard. He said troops had isolated the guerrillas but were not engaging them, and that the rebels were posting images on social media to show they were still present in Marawi.
Duterte threatened harsh measures to prevent extremists taking a hold in Mindanao and said martial law would remain in place for as long as it took to restore order and prevent radical Islamist ideology from spreading in the Philippines.
Human rights experts have expressed concern about possible abuses by the military and police in places under martial rule and say the conduct of security forces during Duterte's deadly anti-drugs campaign has not inspired confidence.
AFP map of Philippines' Mindanao region, put under martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte in order to battle Islamist militants pic.twitter.com/fOs0Cejx39- AFP news agency (@AFP) May 25, 2017
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