Military: 2 Indonesian terror suspects helped launch attack on troops in Jolo

MANILA (AP) - Two top Indonesian terror suspects were involved in deadly clashes between Muslim insurgents and army soldiers in Jolo last week, the military chief said Sunday.

Military chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said the two - Umar Patek and Dulmatin - provided unspecified help to Abu Sayyaf militants and other insurgents who killed 25 soldiers Thursday in a road ambush and subsequent fighting on the southern island of Jolo. Dulmatin goes by a single name.

"We have a report that they (Patek and Dulmatin) were in the encounters," Esperon told reporters. He did not elaborate.

The two Indonesians would be among the insurgents troops hunt for in the next few days, he said.

Dulmatin and Patek have reportedly been given sanctuary in Jolo by Abu Sayyaf commanders Radulan Sahiron and Umbra Jumdail, whose forces, along with Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas, killed the 25 soldiers.