US and Philippines dangle millions in bounties for Islamist leaders
Marawi — Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte offered large bounties on Monday for the leaders of Islamist fighters holding parts of a southern city as the military warned its recapture may take longer than expected. Hundreds of gunmen loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group are battling air strikes, artillery and ground forces in Marawi. Up to 2,000 civilians are believed to have been trapped for two weeks in districts held by the militants, the government says. The fighting has killed at least 178 people and caused nearly a quarter of a million others to flee, according to government officials. Fresh rewards totalling 20-million pesos ($410,000) are on offer from Duterte for the "neutralisation" of Isnilon Hapilon, Abdullah Maute and his brother Omarkhayam Maute, a military statement said. "We hope that this will bear significant accomplishments leading to the eventual arrest and neutralisation of Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers," military chief of staff General Eduardo Ano ...
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