Duterte invites rebels to join fight against extremists

MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has invited Muslim rebels to join the military in the fight against extremists allied with the Islamic State group.

In a speech before the troops in Mactan in Cebu City in the central Philippines on Sunday, Duterte said that he has accepted the offer of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari to integrate some 2,000 to 3,000 MNLF fighters into the Armed Force of the Philippines to help crush the Maute group.

The government security forces are now fighting close to 200 to 250 Maute militants holed up in the southern Philippine city of Marawi. The group has pledged loyalty to the IS.