The AP reports that Philippino Army troops clashed with Muslim rebels in a southern province of the Philippines Tuesday, killing at least 11 guerillas believed to support a renegade former governor.

The fighting in a mountainous area straddling three towns in Sulu, where the military has waged an offensive against Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, wounded at least four soldiers, the officials said. Sulu is about 590 miles south of Manila.

Soldiers also recovered firearms left by the guerrillas, who were being pursued by troops, said Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, who heads the military’s Southern Command.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels, notorious for recent kidnappings of foreigners, were with followers of Nur Misuari, a former governor of an autonomous Muslim region now accused of ordering attacks on government troops to disrupt November elections.

Those elections would choose his successor.

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