Photos released of 13 dead intruders

VIDEO | 51 sec

The government today released three photographs of dead Sulu intruders in Kampung Tanduo, while confirming that at least 13 enemy combatants are dead.

"This is released to show that what is ongoing is real and not a figment. This is the reality on the ground," said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at Felda Sahabat Residence, Lahad Datu.

Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi, who was also at the press conference, showed a picture of nine dead bodies in a ditch piled up together.

Another photograph showed the corpse of a combatant that was killed this morning ( right ).

A final photograph showed a burial ground which did not depict any dead bodies, but Hishammuddin claimed that the " mopping up " operation revealed three bodies were inside.

"The dead we (are) confirming are only those in photographs which we deem are non-sensitive (for public) release," said Hishammuddin.

However, he declined to confirm the total figures of Sulu casualties other than what was presented in the photographs.

Other than the one fatality this morning, it is uncertain whether the other 12 persons died during the dawn raid yesterday or during the gunbattle last Friday .

The authorities have kept mum on the casualty figures in yesterday's air-and-ground attack other than stating that no Malaysian combatant was killed.

In the firefight on Friday, 14 people were killed - 12 intruders and two police commandos.

However, in another press conference held later, Armed Forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin believed that the nine people that were discovered to be buried in Kampung Tanduo were killed during a gun battle with security forces last Friday , and not from yesterday's assault. 

Cause of death unknown

A total of five photographs were released with the others showing a row of confiscated weapons and another of a forensic team at work in the operation zone.

"These (pictures were captured) during the mopping-up operation, inch by inch, as we go in," he said.

However, Hishammuddin ( right in photo ) refused to reveal how the other 12 men died other than the one who was shot dead this morning.

"The forensics will do their investigation and they will reveal in detail later, don't speculate," he said when asked if they died from being bombed or shot.

He revealed that a forensic officer was attacked by remnants of the intruders in the declared safe zone, but was unharmed.

Zahid said information and visuals are trickling in slowly as security forces search the area.

"The terrain is difficult so do not underestimate (the challenge) but we are confident of our police and armed forces (to finish the job).

"Do not belittle their efforts, I would like to stress the cooperation with the police and armed forces has been successful," he said.

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