The Philippines in flames: citizens flee as Isis flag flies over Marawi – in pictures
The Philippine government has declared an Islamic State ‘invasion’ after an Isis flag was hoisted over the southern city of Marawi. The army, which is embroiled in a deadly battle with Muslim extremists, claims foreign fighters are among rebels who have held the city since Tuesday, when troops raided the hideout of a notorious militant leader. With the city overtaken by violence that has claimed the lives of at least 46 people and prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law on the island of Mindanao, citizens are fleeing en masse
Smoke rises near a public market after military helicopters fired rockets on the positions of Isis-linked extremists in Marawi, a city on the southern island of Mindanao, on Thursday. Philippine security forces have bombed residential areas of the city in the battle against Maute rebels, a local armed group affiliated to Islamic State. On Friday, the government declared an ‘invasion’ of foreign fighters as an Isis flag was hoisted over the city. At least 46 people have died so far in the clashes, including around 11 civiliansPhotograph: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images
Local people have been desperately trying to leave the area with whatever possessions they can carry. They have fled in vehicles and on foot. Traffic is gridlocked on the main roads in and out of Marawi, with overcrowded vehicles facing long queues at police checkpoints at the entrance of Iligan City, about 38km away. Imposing martial law in the south on Tuesday, the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte warned it would be ‘harsh’, like a dictatorship. Duterte, who has threatened to extend martial law across the country, has accused foreign fighters of infiltrating local rebel groupsPhotograph: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images
Filipino soldiers escort children in Marawi. Duterte has declared martial law across the island of Mindanao. The militants captured the city, which has a population of 200,000 people, on Tuesday. They laid siege to a hospital, holding hostages, and set fire to a church, a college and a prison. Maute, an Islamic militant group based in the autonomous Filipino region of Lanao del Sur, first emerged in 2012, styling themselves the Khilafah Islamiyah MovementPhotograph: Linus G Escandor Ii/EPA
Military troops have been helping to evacuate people from villages around Marawi but there have been chaotic scenes on roads as people flee the fighting, with rebels blocking bridges and some streetsPhotograph: Linus G Escandor Ii/EPA
In a statement, the military said 13 Maute group members were killed in a two-hour gunfight on Thursday morning as government forces cleared two bridges heading toward Marawi. ‘As of this report, 31 terrorists were already neutralised and six high-powered firearms were recovered by the troops,’ said Brig Gen Rolly Bautista, head of joint task force ZamPeLan. ‘Our troops are doing deliberate operations in areas we believe are still occupied or infested with the terrorists’ presence. I specifically ordered our soldiers to locate and destroy these terrorists as soon as possible’Photograph: Jeoffrey Maitem/EPA
An armoured personnel carrier and government troops are seen marching towards Marawi on Thursday to strengthen the government campaign against the insurgentsPhotograph: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters
A soldier gazes out towards enemy positions. The army is trying to clear out the armed militants, one street at a time. The fighting erupted on Tuesday when Maute gunmen rampaged through the city setting buildings on fire in response to an attempt to apprehend a militant leader. Duterte has identified the influence of Islamic State as one of the country’s top security concerns, and martial law could be extended across the Philippines to enforce order, allowing the detention of people without chargesPhotograph: Jes Aznar/Getty Images
Soldiers in Marawi seek to evade sniper firePhotograph: Jes Aznar/Getty Images
Male residents are frisked by police at a checkpoint as they leave Marawi. Army tanks packed with soldiers rolled into the city on Thursday in an attempt to restore control after the militants launched a violent siege that raised fears of extremists gaining traction in the countryPhotograph: Bullit Marquez/AP
Evacuation centres like this one have been swiftly set up as gathering places for fleeing civiliansPhotograph: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters
Villagers take shelter at a school. They are within earshot of fresh clashes between government troops and rebelsPhotograph: Linus G Escandor Ii/EPA
Duterte, centre, is seen signing the report he submitted to congress for declaring martial law in Mindanao. He is flanked by executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, left, and finance secretary Carlos Dominguez, right. Duterte declared 60 days of martial law across the southern third of the nation, an area that extends well beyond MarawiPhotograph: AP
Muslim missionaries called ‘Tablighi’ are seen with their belongings as they await transport out of MarawiPhotograph: Merlyn T Manos/EPA
Protesters hold anti-martial law signs during a large demonstration held on Thursday at Mendiola Bridge in Manila, the Philippine capital. Human rights activists have objected to Duterte’s imposition of martial lawPhotograph: Rolex Dela Pena/EPA
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