Militants fire on Philippine helicopters

LAMITAN CITY, Philippines, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- At least two civilians suffered minor injuries Sunday when militants fired on military helicopters in the Philippine province of Basilan, authorities said.

Conflicting reports said between two and four civilians, including cameramen for state-owned television network NBN 4, were hit by shrapnel when the UH-H1 helicopters came under attack and were forced to make an emergency landing near Lamitan City.

The attackers were believed to be Abu Sayyaf militants, a loosely organized group of Islamic extremists linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network, GMANews.TV reported.

The helicopters were returning from a flag-raising ceremony in a former Abu Sayyaf stronghold seized by government troops last Wednesday. That battle killed 31 militants and 23 soldiers, Xinhua, China's state-run news agency reported Sunday.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared war

against Abu Sayyaf Saturday, ordering government troops to "annihilate" the militants for killings and kidnappings during the last decade, GMANews.TV reported.