Philippines violence continues

MANILLA, Philippines, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military to continue its offensive against the al-Qaida-linked group Abu Sayyaf.

Macapagal-Arroyo was also “very concerned” about casualties the Armed Forces of the Philippines has suffered in Sulu fighting the extremist group over the previous three days, the Philippine Inquirer reported Friday.

The military put the death toll at 57, including 26 soldiers and 31 Abu Sayyaf fighters, the Inquirer said. Also, 17 soldiers and 25 Abu Sayyaf fighters had been wounded. A 9-year-old boy who was reportedly the son of an Abu Sayyaf commander, was killed in the crossfire, the Inquirer said.

"We are not going to give up because we suffered casualties," Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. told reporters. "We will not stop. We will go after them. … We want to go after them even at the expense of the lives of our soldiers. That is our duty."