MANILA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops killed five alleged members of Dawlah Islamiya (DI), an Islamic militant group, during clashes in the southern Philippines before dawn on Monday, the military said.

The military said five government soldiers were also wounded in the fighting that broke out before 4 a.m. local time in Munai town in Lanao del Norte province.

The government troops were conducting combat operations in Munai town when they ran into 12 militants, triggering a 45-minute firefight, resulting in the death of the three militants.

The troops clashed with another group of militants around 6:30 a.m. while they were pursuing the fleeing armed groups, killing two more militants.

The government troops recovered two high-powered firearms, two bandoliers, a rifle grenade, and a handheld radio, the military added.

The DI is behind several atrocities in Mindanao, including the bombing at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province in December last year, which left four people dead and 50 others injured. Enditem

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