Philippine forces make gains in southern city under siege

MARAWI, Philippines (AP) — Philippine forces control most of a southern city where militants linked to the Islamic State group launched a bloody siege nearly a week ago, authorities said Monday, as the army launched airstrikes and went house-to-house to crush areas of resistance.

The crisis in Marawi, which is home to some 200,000 people, has raised fears that extremism in the southern Philippines is increasing as smaller militant groups unify and align themselves with the Islamic State group.

In recent days, gunmen have managed to fend off attack helicopters, armored vehicles and scores of soldiers.

According to government figures Monday, the death toll was 105 people — 61 militants, 20 government forces and 24 civilians.

The violence prompted President Rodrigo Duterte last week to declare 60 days of martial law in the southern Philippines, where a Muslim separatist rebellion has raged for decades.