About 27 Abu Sayyaf rebels have been killed in week-long skirmishes on the southern Philippine island of Jolo, where gunmen are holding hostage three Indonesians and four Filipino Christian preachers, the military said yesterday. Six rebels were killed in clashes on Saturday near Patikul town, southern command chief Lt-General Narciso Abaya said. But most of the deaths occurred last Monday when 16 rebels were reported killed. Five others died in skirmishes later in the week. The deaths were reported by witnesses and local village elders, who said some of the gunmen were immediately buried by their comrades. Full Story