(AFP) The army today denied that Philippine Muslim leader Nur Misuari, wanted for leading a bloody revolt in the south of the country, had fled to this country.

Muhmad Yassin Yahya, commander of the Fifth Infantry Brigade, said in a statement there was no truth in reports that Misuari had arrived in Sabah..

The Philippine military said earlier it had received information that Misuari had fled to Sabah en route to Saudi Arabia.

"In this situation there are a lot of rumours," said Sabah-based military commander Yassin, who "categorically" denied that Misuari was in the state.

"We are monitoring all reports as they come in and the people need not be worried.

"The armed forces together with the air force, navy and police are working together and have increased patrols in Malaysian waters as well as the island bases off Sabah and it will not be easy for anyone to come into Sabah waters," he said.

Philippine military cautioned earlier that reports of Misuari's flight might be a ploy to divert the attention of forces hunting for him on southern Jolo island, where more than 100 people have died since the rebellion began on Monday.

Intelligence report

Military Chief of Staff General Diomedio Villanueva told a Senate hearing in Manila that an "intelligence asset" had informed them that Nur Misuari had fled the island of Jolo for the neighboring Malaysian state of Sabah and was trying to reach Saudi Arabia.

Malaysia provided Misuari and his guerrillas with sanctuary when they were fighting the Philippine government in the 1970's but they have urged him to end the current rebellion.

Villanueva said initial reports indicated that Misuari had abandoned the majority of his forces on Jolo following a series of raids on military and police outposts that left at least 113 people dead, including at least 100 of Misuari's estimated 600 followers.

Abdurahman Amin, an aide to Misuari, would not confirm that his leader had fled but insisted he was "in a very safe place and away from any physical harm".

He would not comment on allegations that Misuari had been wounded in military air strikes after his forces returned to violence this week in what has been seen as an attempt to cling on to power in a Muslim autonomous region which he has run for the last five years.

Elections on Monday

Elections for governor of the region are scheduled for Monday and Misuari is not in the running following a decision by President Gloria Arroyo to support a rival candidate.

Misuari is one of the leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a separatist organisation which waged a long struggle for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines before signing a peace agreement in 1996.

On the main southern island of Mindanao, where Misuari also has armed followers, military officials described the situation as stable.

"There are no overt actions by any of the MNLF followers to create trouble. We believe this uprising is limited to the Misuari faction," said military spokesman Brigadier General Edilberto Adan.