Supporters of 2 Sulu pols clash; 10 killed

ZAMBOANGA CITY - At least 10 people were killed in gunbattles between supporters of two political clans in a Sulu town, the police and military said yesterday.

Followers of Ibrahim Hadani, a former mayor of Pangutaran town, clashed last Saturday with supporters of Abdul Sanoh, Hadini's successor who was killed last month, said Superintendent Candido Casimiro, Sulu police director.

Nine of Hadani's and one of Sanoh's followers died in the fighting, Casimiro said.

Military and police units were sent to the town to make peace between the two groups.

Sporadic gunfire could still be heard yesterday, according to Col. Hilario Atendido, a spokesman of the military's Southern Command.

The town has been without a mayor since Sanoh's killing in downtown Jolo last month.

Hadani's group attacked after the Sanoh camp stormed the town hall at about 6:20 a.m. last Saturday to prevent Hadani's wife, Muchapun, the incumbent vice mayor, from taking over as mayor. The two groups exchanged mortar fire.

One of Sanoh's alleged killers was the town's police chief, a brother of Hadani's wife, said Brig. Gen. Orlando Buenaventura, the local Marine commander. The police chief is still at large.

Reports said Pangutaran residents have fled to safer grounds, fearing that the hostilities might escalate.

Casimiro said elements of the provincial police's mobile group have been sent to the strife-torn municipality, backed up by forces of the 3rd Marine Brigade and two MG-520 helicopters.

Gov. Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has reportedly sought the deployment of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) integrees to Pangutaran to act as peacekeeping force. - With AP report