Malaysia demands Filipinos surrender after attacks fail
(03-07 16:09)
Malaysia's defense minister rejected a ceasefire offer by a self-appointed Philippine sultan unless his fighters who launched a deadly incursion “surrender unconditionally.’’ Malaysian troops have so far failed to dislodge the intruders in a remote corner of Borneo island and lost 8 policemen.
“A unilateral ceasefire is not accepted by Malaysia unless the militants surrender unconditionally,’’ Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on his Twitter feed.
The so-called “sultan,’’ Jamalul Kiram III, had declared a unilateral ceasefire for 12:30 pm local time. Kiram sent his followers from their southern Philippine island homes across the Sulu Sea to assert an ancestral claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah, located on Borneo's northern tip.
At least 28 people – 20 militants and eight policemen – have been reported killed since an initial stand-off began more than three weeks ago in the sleepy farming village of Tanduo.
Zahid added: “Don't believe the ceasefire offer by Jamalul Kiram. In the interest of Sabahans and all Malaysians, wipe out all the militants first.''
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