Suspected al-Qaida-linked gunman kill 2 Filipino army intelligence men in southern Philippines

From the Vancouver Sun (Apr 28): Suspected al-Qaida-linked gunman kill 2 Filipino army intelligence men in southern Philippines

A Philippine military official says two army intelligence men have been killed by suspected al-Qaida-linked militants while on a surveillance mission in a volatile province.

Army brigade commander Col. Carlito Galvez says two suspected Abu Sayyaf militants on a motorcycle opened fire and killed the two soldiers Sunday in a village in Lamitan city on Basilan Island. The gunmen are believed to be members of an urban-based hit squad of the Abu Sayyaf.

The Philippine military has recently stepped up offensives against the Abu Sayyaf, which has threatened a major road project, attacked a power barge and tried to extort money from a construction company.

Galvez says the Abu Sayyaf has also given sanctuary in Basilan to a few foreign militants linked to the Southeast Asian militant network Jemaah Islamiyah.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Suspected+alQaidalinked+gunmen+kill+Filipino+army+intelligence/8306532/story.html