Filipino Muslims in Manila offer prayers for besieged Marawi

MANILA - Filipino Muslims in Manila offered prayers on Friday for residents of Marawi, the southern Philippine city besieged by Islamist militants.

At least 138 militants, 39 security forces and 20 civilians have been killed in the two-conflict while more than 200,000 have been displaced, according to military and disaster officials.

Filipinos attending Friday prayers on the second week of Ramadan hoped for better conditions for their fellow Muslims trapped in or forced to evacuate Marawi, which has seen intense street battles and daily government airstrikes since the Islamic State-linked Maute Group laid siege to the city in May 23.

The Manila Golden Mosque has set up fundraising projects such as selling t-shirts of which proceeds will go to the benefit of Marawi evacuees. — Reuters