Tuesday, March 15 2005 10:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Manila: Police fired a barrage of tear-gas canisters and bullets today (Mar 15, 2005) in a major assault on Muslim suspects who took over a maximum-security jail in Manila, killing at least 16, officials said.

Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes said that the dead included four leaders of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group, including the two men who headed a botched escape attempt yesterday (Mar 14, 2005) that left an additional five people dead.

"We have taken control of all the floors,'' Metro Manila Police Chief Avelino Razon quoted the ground commander as saying less than an hour after the operation began.

Sporadic gunfire continued for an hour as police said they were conducting mop-up operations. At least five officers were wounded in the assault, police said.

Reyes said that three Abu Sayyaf leaders - Alhamzer Manatad Limbong, known as Kosovo; Ghalib Andang, known as Commander Robot; and Nadzmie Sabtulah, alias Commander Global - were killed in the assault. All three have been accused of involvement in mass kidnappings and other terror acts.

Detainee Hazdi Daie, a spokesman for the inmates, also was killed, Reyes said.

The assault came after Reyes gave the inmates 15 minutes to surrender on Tuesday (Mar 8, 2005), the second day of a standoff with inmates. A deal on Monday to end the drama fell apart over the militants' demand for dinner.

"After considering all peaceful means, we have reached a decision to take the final option,'' Reyes said.

"They refused to yield the firearms which they grabbed from the guards and turned down our calls and assurances for their safety, including the plea of our Muslim leaders.''