The Abu Sayyaf suspects have launched a rocket attack at an Army base in the southern Philippines, a local TV reported in Manila Wednesday.

According to the ABS-CBN news channel, the military has reported no casualties during the attack at the base on a mountainin Indanan, Sulu, on Monday night.

The Abu Sayyaf suspects fired two rounds of 40-mm grenades, 500 meters northwest from the Army base, triggering the military to fire back, the report said.

Citing the military, the report said that the attack was conducted to compel soldiers who are stationed at the former Abu Sayyaf base.

The military's Southern Command Tuesday said that the Marines clashed with the Abu Sayyaf members in Jolo of Sulu island, killing one rebel and injuring an undetermined number of rebels.

The clash occurred ahead of the start of Philippine-US joint military exercises in Jolo next month, which will focus on humanitarian missions, including dental treatments and building classrooms.

The Abu Sayyaf, which is listed by the US as a terrorist group, has been blamed for deadly bombings and high-profile ransom kidnappings in recent years.
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(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2006)