Zamboanga City, Philippines - A suspected Islamic militant was killed in a firefight with government security forces in the southern Philippines, the military said Monday.

The slain suspect, Sam Andal, was believed to be a logistics officer of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebel group, said Major Eugene Batara, a regional military spokesman.

Batara said Andal was killed by a joint navy and police team that raided his hideout on Pandami Island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, on Saturday.

The security forces recovered one M-16 rifle, an M-79 grenade launcher, a rifle grenade and assorted ammunitions from Andal's hideout.

The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines. It has also been behind high-profile kidnap-for-ransom cases involving foreign hostages. (dpa)