Zamboanga City, Philippines  - Twenty-three soldiers and more than 20 Muslim militants were killed in fierce fighting in a southern Philippine province, the military said Thursday.

The clashes erupted Wednesday when government troops swooped down on a training camp of Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels in Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila.

Major General Ben Dolorfino, a regional military commander, said most of the slain soldiers were killed by sniper fire. "More than 20 Abu Sayyaf rebels were also killed in the fighting," he said.

Dolorfino said soldiers overran the training camp and seized 13 high-powered firearms and dozens of improvised bombs that were already rigged to explode.

The al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels have been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines. They have also been behind high-profile kidnappings in the country. (dpa)