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Gunmen took hostages at a cathedral in Marawi fights broke out between ISIS-linked extremists and government forces. The city was engulfed in a bloody battle after least 15 fighters from Maute, an ISIS backed-group, stormed the city, forcing the president to delcare a state of emergency. Two soldiers and a policeman were killed and 12 people wounded in Marawi, where Maute fighters took over buildings and set fire to a school, a church and a jail.

REUTERS Fighting has broken out between ISIS and government forces in Marawi

I was in school when we heard gunfire ... When we came out there were blood stains in the building Student Rabani Mautum

More than a dozen worshippers and a priest were also among the hostages held at the church. The military and government gave few details about the clashes nor did they say if any rebels had been killed. Authorities insisted the situation was under control but residents who fled told a different story and said Marawi was in the hands of the rebels, who had allowed civilians to leave. Student Rabani Mautum, in nearby Pantar town, where some residents were leaving in overloaded trucks, said: "The city is still under the control of the armed group. They are all over the main roads and two bridges leading to Marawi. "I was in school when we heard gunfire ... When we came out there were blood stains in the building but we did not see dead or wounded."

ISIS fighters Fri, March 25, 2016 Iraq and Syrian jihadists, including the Paris and Brussels attacks suspects. Play slideshow PH 1 of 47 Belgian national Salah Abdeslam who masterminded the Paris attacks

GETTY Government forces are battling against ISIS rebels

Fighting abated in the mainly Muslim city of Marawi as troops sought to contain dozens of rebels of the Maute group, who escaped a botched raid on Tuesday on an apartment and took over streets, bridges and buildings and sought to block army reinforcements. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned on Wednesday he would deal harshly with militants as he declared a state of emergency. Duterte, who dropped a trip to Russia to deal with the crisis, said the region and its 22 million inhabitants could remain under military rule for up to a year. He said: To my countrymen who have experienced martial law. It would not be any different from what President Marcos did. I'd be harsh.

REUTERS Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned the take over could last a year