South Philippine: 11 killed as militants assailed a village

Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen raided a village in Basilan, killing at least 11 people and injuring 20 others, including a one-year-old girl.Police said most of the villagers of Poblacion Tubigan in Maluso town were asleep when they were attacked by suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists.The assailants opened fire with automatic arms and torched several houses in the village that also left 10 people wounded, including four children who were last reported in critical condition.Initial reports said the number of victims could increase since many of the villagers were caught in a hail of gunfire from the attackers.The attack came in the wake of the recent killing of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and the arrest of two key leaders of the extremist group. Government forces had been told to be on alert for reprisal attacks.It was the worst attack on civilians since 2001 when the Abu Sayyaf seized dozens of villagers and later beheaded nine farmers and shot to death another civilian in Lamitan town.The attack also came a day after government troops rescued two Chinese nationals in nearby Sumisip town.The two men were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf from a plywood factory in Maluso in November. One of the factory workers seized with them was beheaded.