Manila, Dec 13 (DPA) Suspected Muslim rebels Sunday attacked a jail in the southern Philippines, freeing 31 prisoners in a pre-dawn raid that left two people dead, officials said.
The escaped detainees included Muslim separatist rebels accused of beheading 10 of 14 Marines killed in an ambush in July 2007.
About 30 gunmen broke the concrete wall of the jail in Sumagdang district in Isabela City, Basilan province, 900 km south of Manila, before dawn Sunday.
Superintendent Abubakar Tulawie, the provincial police commander, said the raiders then cut the cell padlocks using boltcutters.
He said a brief firefight erupted when jail guards fought the attackers. One jail guard and one suspect were killed in the clash.
Tulawie said police and soldiers were pursuing the attackers and the escaped prisoners.
