Reports: At least 10 Sulu gunmen dead

FELDA SAHABAT: The casualty in the Tanduo encounter between the Malaysian security forces and the Sulu armed group is believed to have gone up.
After the first reports that two Sulu gunmen were dead and three Malaysian police injured, more ground reports coming out of Tanduo village claimed that at least 10 Sulu gunmen have been killed and four others injured.
On the Malaysian side, there was no official confirmation as to the four injured security personnel or of any deaths.
However, journalists at the entrance of the Felda Sahabat 17 oil palm plantation leading to Tanduo village, saw two bodies being taken out in a jeep by security forces medical personnel.
The Sultan Kiram family has confirmed in Manila that at least 10 Sulu gunmen have been killed and four injured.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib declined to comment and said a press conference will be held later.
Until then, conflicting reports are emerging on the number of casualties.

 Earlier....

Negotiations with a group of armed Sulu gunmen are not over although the deadline for them to leave Sabah has passed, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.
There are no more deadlines for the group to give up their weapons and return to the Philippines, Hishammuddin said, adding that the Malaysian government's patience has been wearing thin.
"The deadline has been extended so many times," he told reporters here Friday.
Hishammuddin refused to confirm or deny reports that a gunfight had broken out between security forces and the group of about 180 Sulu Sultan followers holed up in Tanduo village in Lahad Datu since Feb 9.
"I will not comment on the ground operations. That you will have to get from the Inspector General of Police or the Sabah police chief," he said.
"But what happens from now onwards, I hope no one will accuse the security forces of not giving space to the rebels to settle this peacefully," he said.
Despite being tight lipped about reports of the shooting, Hishammuddin said here have been no deaths on either side as of now.
"That I can confirm. No deaths," he said.
However, 15 minutes after the press conference had ended, Hishammuddin took to his Twitter account @hishammuddinh2o to confirm shooting had occurred at the village.
"Lahad Datu - I confirm that our security forces have not taken a single shot but were shot at, at 10am this morning! "Lahad Datu: The situation is under full control. (The gunmen) are still surrounded and the security forces have not returned fire. Together we pray!"