Philippines crisis: City of Marawi under siege from Islamic State
https://www.rt.com/news/389452-duter...s-martial-law/
Philippines crisis: President Duterte declares martial law
City of Marawi under siege from Islamic State fighters
Quote:
Originally Posted by RT
Militants affiliated with Islamic State are vying for control of the city of Marawi in the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte put the island of Mindanao under martial law, ordered in special forces and cut short his state visit to Russia.
Islamist-extremist insurgents from the Maute group are engaging government forces in firefights and the area, which boasts a population of 200,000, is now on lockdown, according to Philippines authorities.
Local reports indicate the militants have established checkpoints in the city.
Facebook posts by Marawi residents depict photos of fighters, clad in black, moving through streets while heavily armed. Local media reports the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) flag flies over a medical center while other residents are tweeting that buildings have been set ablaze and roads blocked.
President Duterte declared martial law for a 60-day period. Authorities have asked the public not to share any information which could “compromise operational security.”
A government official said in a press conference Tuesday that the whole of Marawi city has been blacked out with snipers patrolling the streets as government troops continue to engage with the insurgents.
President Duterte is cutting short his state visit to Moscow to return to the Philippines.
Wherever it is in the world, it can never live peacefully alongside anything else.