Asia-Pacific

65 civilians kidnapped in S Philippines

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-10 15:54

MANILA: At least 65 civilians were kidnapped by a group of armed men Thursday morning in southern Philippine region of Mindanao, a regional military commander said.

The civilians were abducted at a remote village of Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur province at around 10:00 am (0200 GMT) by undetermined number of gunmen from an armed organized crime group known as Perez, the military's Eastern Mindanao Commander Raymundo Ferrer told reporters in a text message.

Troops were deployed to pursue the kidnappers, he said.