Villagers say Jemaah leader killed in clash with troops

Manila: Troops are checking reports that a leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the Southeast Asian conduit of the Al Qaida terror network, died in a recent encounter with soldiers in Sulu island, a military official said.

"We have been receiving reports from villagers that Umar Patek was fatally wounded in the pre-dawn attack by government troops in Luba Hill, Tubas village in Patikul on September 4," said Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, Marine Brigade commander leading the pursuit operations against the bandits.

Combat

"A wounded Marine said one of those he had shot and hit in a close quarter combat looked like the face of Umar Patek in a poster," said Sabban.