(Recasts with more comments from marine spokesman) By Manny Mogato MANILA, July 11 (Reuters) - At least 14 Philippine soldiers were killed, including 10 who were beheaded, in the heaviest fighting in months between troops and Muslim rebels, officials said on Wednesday. Marine spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ariel Caculitan said a group of about 80 marines was ambushed by about 500 Muslim rebels from the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the southern island of Basilan on Tuesday. "The high number of casualties is best explained by the manner in which they were attacked," Caculitan told reporters. "It was very treacherous. It was an ambush and our vehicles were burned and destroyed." He said 10 of those killed were beheaded, while nine marines were wounded in the clash. The MILF, the country's largest Muslim rebel group, said its cadres defended themselves when marines moved into their encampment on Basilan, triggering a fierce nine-hour gun battle. "The incident could have been avoided if the government had coordinated with our forces in Basilan before they actually moved in," said Mohaqher Iqbal, the MILF's chief peace negotiator. "Our forces were attacked, we only defended ourselves." Officials said the marines were trying to verify reports an Italian priest kidnapped on the mainland last month had been brought to Basilan when they encountered a large armed group. "We were totally outnumbered and we had no time to recover enemy casualties but we have reports of dead and injured on their side," Marine spokesman Caculitan said. Other officials said at least 20 rebels were killed. The MILF's Iqbal said the rebels lost four fighters and seven were wounded, but believed they had killed 25 soldiers, seized 27 assault rifles and destroyed two military trucks. Such conflicting accounts of tolls are common in the Philippines. BIGGEST BATTLE FOR MONTHS Both versions indicate it was the single biggest battle in the restive southern Philippines for months. At least 30 rebels, three soldiers and one civilian were killed in clashes on the nearby island of Jolo in April, but that was spread over several days. It was also the highest death toll suffered by the military in a single day for decades. Military officers said the last time so many soldiers died in a single day was in the 1980s at the height of operations against communist rebels. The marines on Basilan were checking reports Giancarlo Bossi, an Italian priest kidnapped on the mainland last month, may have been taken there. There has been no word on the whereabouts of the priest since he was taken by armed men on June 10 after saying Sunday mass. Caculitan said the marines had not been able to verify his presence on Basilan. The 500 rebels in the battle were initially believed to be mainly from the Abu Sayyaf group. Iqbal said there were no Abu Sayyaf rebels in the area and the government knew from the start about the presence of MILF rebels in the area. Marine officials insisted the troops had clashed with the Abu Sayyaf, the MILF and other Muslim groups. The Abu Sayyaf is the smallest but deadliest of several Muslim groups fighting the Philippine government. The MILF is holding peace talks with the government, but many renegades have broken away and are continuing to fight.
