Five killed in Semporna ambush

Five policemen, one of them an officer, were killed in an ambush by armed intruders in Kampung Sri Jaya, Simunul, Semporna, Sabah, last night, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar told reporters in Lahad Datu today.

He said two of the armed intruders were also killed.

Earlier, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said today said two policemen were killed.

He said the policemen were shot at by an unidentified group in Kampung Seri Jaya Siminul at about 6.30 pm.

Hamza did not elaborate on the matter during the telephone interview he had with the TV3 television station on the "Malaysia Hari Ini" programme.

He said the police were investigating whether the group, believed to be less than 10 in number, had any link to the armed intruders claiming to be from the royal army of the Sulu Sultanate in the Philippines holed up in Kampung Tanduo, 130km from Lahad Datu.

Hamza said the Lahad Datu intruders, whose skirmish with the police on Friday resulted in the death of 12 of the intruders and two police commandos, had been cordoned off by security forces.

He also said that the police were in control of the security in Lahad Datu and Sabah, and advised the people in the state not to listen to rumours.

He said they could contact the district police chiefs to verify any information.