Marine beheadings by militants in Basilan clash up to 10

BASILAN (AFP) - Islamic militants killed 14 Philippine marines searching for a kidnapped Italian priest during a gunbattle, and later beheaded 10 of them, marine spokesman Ariel Caculitan said Wednesday.

"All 10 marines earlier reported missing have been found dead," Lieutenant Colonel Caculitan told reporters.

"All were beheaded," he added.

The military had earlier put the death toll at eight.