ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 9 -- A militiaman and three members of his family were wounded in a 30-minute clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Lamitan City, Basilan province, police and military officials said Monday.

Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said the clash broke out when a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits attacked an Army detachment around 7:50 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Sabong.

Verceles identified the victims as Romy Mangkabung, 36, a militiaman; his wife, Hasma, 30; his daughter, Nasira, 22; and a 10-year-old nephew.

He said Mangkabung and his relatives were at the detachment of the Army's 18th Infantry Battalion when the bandits, led by a certain commander Abaas Jangkatan, attacked them.

Br...