Thousands may have been killed in Philippines: ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Friday that hundreds or even thousands of civilians were killed in Philippines' Marawi city amid ongoing clashes between the army and militants.

Deputy country head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Philippines, Martin Thalmann, said they have began a mission to recover bodies from some army-occupied areas.

The ICRC estimated they will be recovering hundreds or maybe thousands of bodies in coming days from central Marawi, where the frontline barely moved despite continuous bombing by the army at rebel positions, Thalmann told EFE news.

The recovery work will be carried out in areas that were cleared of militants. The army estimated that around 2,000 civilians were still trapped in the capital of Lanao del Sur, in Muslim Mindanao.

According to the latest official estimate, 174 people were killed in the violence. The figure included 120 militants with links to the Islamic State, 36 soldiers and policemen and 19 civilians, killed by Maute fighters, who laid siege in Marawi city on May 23.

The militants had torched a police station, a school, a prison and a church. They also kidnapped a priest and some of his parishioners.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte had imposed martial law in the Mindanao Island, following the clashes.

--IANS

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