Sulu rep claims Azzimudie is 'alive and kicking'

The sultanate of Sulu dismissed Malaysian press reports that Azzimudie Kiram, who is leading the armed group in Lahad Datu, has been killed in the attack of Malaysian forces this morning.

According to InterAksyon.com, the online news portal of Philippine TV channel TV5, the sultanate's spokesperson Abraham Idjirani had communicated with Azzimudie by phone in front of reporters during a press briefing at Manila this afternoon.

"Raja Muda called up. Now this will put to rest the black propaganda currently being waged by the Malaysian government that our brothers were obliterated by the Malaysian police and military.

"Datu Raja Muda (Azzimudie) and his followers are all alive and still kicking," Idjirani was quoted as saying.

He described Azzimudie as being "like a fox", because the latter is constantly moving from one place to another to evade the Malaysian forces.

Utusan Malaysia, in its text-message news alert sent this afternoon, quoted military sources as saying that Azzimudie is believed to have been killed in the air strike.

Earlier, Idjirani also alleged that he was told by Azzimudie that the bombs dropped by the Malaysian air force had not hit their positions but had, instead, fallen on security forces that had massed up for the assault.

However, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar claimed earlier today that no casualties have been recorded on the Malaysian side, while casualties among the intruders have yet to be ascertained.