Two Malaysians among 12 killed in Lahad Datu

A spokesperson of the sultanate of Sulu claimed that 10 people were killed and four others wounded in a exchange of fire between Malaysian security forces and the Sulu sultanate intruders in Lahad Datu this morning.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that two Malaysian police commandoes were killed in a mortar attack, and that another two injured soldiers have since been airlifted to a hospital. 

Update 1.55pm: Azzimudie Kiram, the younger brother of Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram (left) and who heads the armed group in Kampung Tanduo, tells radio dzMM that his men will not return to the Philippines as it would be an "embarrassment" for them and the sultanate of Sulu.

“We cannot go back to the Philippines because that will be a great embarrassment on our part. We have already stated our intention in coming here," Azzimudie is quoted as saying.

He said he and his 275 followers were bent on staying in Tanduo village in Lahad Datu while the Philippine government is in talks with the Malaysian government on how to settle the issue.

"They can proceed with the negotiations peacefully...," he adds.

Update 12.19pm: Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram tells radio dzMM that he will not order his followers to surrender despite the exchange of fire, but the door for negotiations is still open.
Earlier reports:
ABS-CBNnews reported that Sulu sultanate spokesperson Abraham Idjirani said he had just talked to the self-proclaimed Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram’s (left) brother Azzimudie Kiram, who heads the armed group in Lahad Datu.

Azzimudie confirmed that 10 of his men were killed and four others wounded in the shooting incident.

"He saw the bodies himself," Idjirani told a press conference in Manila. 

"The fatalities included one woman."

Idjirani appealed to the Malaysian government to stop the attack, saying Azzimudie’s men were armed only with bolos (machetes) and knives and only a few had guns.

He claimed that Malaysian police commandos were using snipers to get at Azzimudie’s men.

Malaysian Chinese daily China Press has quoted unverified sources at the scene claimeing that two intruders were shot dead, while three members of the Malaysian forces suffered wounds.
However, ABS-CBNnews reported that the Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines has confirmed there had been a shooting incident between the two sides but there were no casualties.

Philippine Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez told the news agency that Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had just talked to the Malaysian ambassador, who confirmed there had been shooting in Lahad Datu but that it had already stopped.

He said Manila is monitoring the situation.

Ricky Carandang, the Philippines' presidential spokesman, told Reuters that some of the group had tried to breach a cordon setup by the Malaysian security forces this morning.

"There was a warning shot but there's no report of casualty, that was what we got and confirmed by the DFA," he told Reuters.

Earlier today, Idjirani told The Philippine Star that Azzimudie’s group had been fired upon by Malaysian security forces.

Idjirani claimed that the sultanate members had called and informed them about the rising tension at about 6am today.

“This morning is a moment in history, that the Malaysian security forces fired the first shot,”  he was quoted as saying.

On the other hand, he noted that Azzimudie could not ascertain if the first shot had been aimed at his people. 

However, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has claimed that Malaysian security forces were attacked at 10am today, but that had yet to return fire.

“Lahad Datu - I confirm that our security forces have not taken a single shot but were shot at 10am this morning!

“Lahad Datu: the situation is still under full control. They (the intruders) are still being surrounded. The authority has not returned any shots. Let us pray!” he posted in his Twitter account.

Sulu group appealed to Malaysia 

According to Idjirani, Azzimudie also informed them earlier that the Malaysian authorities were already approaching the area.

"However, there was bit of a respite and it was good that the Malaysian police had withdrawn later, according to crown prince (Azzimudie)," Idjirani said.

He claimed that the Malaysian forces came as close as 300 metres from the area where more than 200 followers of the sultanate had been holed up.

The sultanate official also appealed to the Malaysian government to reconsider its actions, stressing that their people in Lahad Datu have no intentions of creating trouble.

"However, if the Malaysian authorities push for action, then the sultanate followers there have no recourse but to defend themselves to their last breath," Idjirani said.

Another Philippine media, Philippine Daily Inquirer, reported that a Sabah-based radio station had broadcast that its reporter who was stationed near Felda 17 - an area near Kampung Tanduo where the armed group was holed up - heard heavy firing shortly after 10am.

The Sabah radio said their efforts to get comments from the Malaysian authorities has failed as the latter were mum on the incident, but some villagers have since claimed seeing bodies being moved out.
In Pekan, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was quoted by The Staras saying that the intruders should leave before action is taken to force them out.

Najib said the longer they stay in Sabah, the more dangerous the situation would be for them, and Malaysian authorities had taken a careful approach in handling the situation to prevent bloodshed.

“The group must realise that what they are doing is a serious offence and I hope they will accept the offer to leave peacefully as soon as possible,” he said.

[More to follow]