Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the southern Philippines

RODRIGO DUTERTE, the Philippine president, declared martial law in Mindanao, the southern homeland of his country’s Muslim minority, after fighting broke out in the streets of the largely Muslim city of Marawi. Gunmen from one jihadist group fought back when the security forces attempted to capture the leader of another such group. Whatever the consequences in lawless Mindanao, for many Filipinos the imposition of martial law was an eerie reminder of a similar declaration in 1972 by the country’s then president, Ferdinand Marcos, that began a decade of ruinous dictatorship.

The defence minister, Delfin Lorenzana, said troops and police had raided a hideout in Marawi to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of a branch of the Abu Sayyaf, an armed group that pledges allegiance to IS. To their surprise, security forces met resistance from about 100 armed members of another group, called Maute, which also claims IS links. In the ensuing battle, thousands of civilians fled Marawi. Maute seized a jail, freeing more than 100 inmates, as well as a hospital, the city hall and parts of a university campus—many of which were burned. As The Economist went to press, at least 21 people were reported killed. Mr Hapilon remains at large.