Malaysia-philippine Standoff

Malaysian troops launched an attack on an armed Filipino group on Tuesday, trying to end a standoff on Borneo island after violence in recent days that killed at least 27 people, a Malaysian government official said.

Twelve followers of a self-described Philippine Sultan died in a shootout with Malaysian security forces on Friday, police said, as tensions ratcheted up in their 17-day standoff.

Malaysia's government said on Thursday that its security forces have surrounded dozens of suspected Philippine militants in a remote area with a history of incursions by armed Filipino Islamic groups.

Malaysian troops launched an attack on an armed Filipino group on Tuesday, trying to end a standoff on Borneo island after violence in recent days that killed at least 27 people, a Malaysian government official said.

Twelve followers of a self-described Philippine Sultan died in a shootout with Malaysian security forces on Friday, police said, as tensions ratcheted up in their 17-day standoff.

Malaysia's government said on Thursday that its security forces have surrounded dozens of suspected Philippine militants in a remote area with a history of incursions by armed Filipino Islamic groups.