Military helicopter shot down by Muslim militants, pilot dead

ZAMBOANGA (AFP) - Muslim extremists shot down a military helicopter during clashes in Zamboanga, killing the pilot, military sources said.

The sources said the pilot of the MG-520 helicopter was fatally hit by enemy fire as the aircraft was reinforcing ground troops attacking a camp used by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, the sources said.

The co-pilot of the helicopter was rescued unharmed by a naval vessel, the military said.

At least 15 government troops and dozen of Muslim extremists have already been killed in fighting that broke out Saturday on the southern island of Basilan as the military assaulted the rebel camp.

The Abu Sayyaf have been blamed for the worst terror attacks in the country. The group has been linked by intelligence agencies to the al-Qaeda terror network.