Military Reports Rebels Surrounded

Naval gunboats patrolled shorelines and helicopter-borne infantry sealed mountain routes Sunday, part of a military crackdown on Muslim extremists who sacked a town last week.

The military claimed to have the insurgents surrounded.

The armed forces’ Southern Command said 19 gunmen from the Islamic separatist group Abu Sayyaf have been killed since Tuesday, when the group raided Ipil, a Christian town 480 miles south of Manila.

Government troops chased 200 gunmen into mountains after they had attacked Ipil, killing 53 people. The militants also have taken hostages - killing some - and have set traps for pursuing troops.