Clash leaves 18 soldiers dead

The Philippine military suffered its largest single-day combat loss so far this year when 18 soldiers were killed in fierce fighting with Abu Sayyaf extremists that also left five Islamic militants dead, including a Moroccan fighter, the military said on Sunday.

At least 53 other soldiers were wounded in Saturday's daylong clashes with the Abu Sayyaf militants and allied gunmen in the hinterlands bordering the towns of Tipo Tipo and Al-Barka on Basilan island, regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan and other army officials said.

The large combat casualties were reported as the Philippines marked the Day of Valor on Saturday to remember Filipino veterans who died in World War II.