Police commandos in the southern Philippines have killed three Abu Sayyaf militants, including the brother of a top rebel commander.

The assault took place on remote Jolo Island and was aimed at capturing an Abu Sayyaf bomb-maker who is wanted by U.S. authorities. He is identified as Malaysian-born Zulkifli bin Hir, who goes by the alias Marwan. But a police spokesman said there was no sign of Marwan when the assault was over.

Among those killed was Gafur Jumdail, whose brother, Gumbahali Jumdail, is also on the U.S. State Department’s list of known terrorists.

The al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group is blamed for a years-long rebel campaign in the southern Philippines that has included bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.

http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2010/09/05/philippine-police-raid-leaves-3-militants-dead/