MANILA - ARMED militants stormed a house on a southern Philippine island on Saturday, killing two members of a civilian militia and a woman before kidnapping three other civilians, the military said.

The military blamed the attack on Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorists, but local officials said another separatist group was responsible.

Lt Steffani Cacho, spokeswoman of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said it was not clear what triggered the attack on Basilan island, located 560 miles (900 kilometres) south of Manila.

Militants used the three civilians as human shields and kidnapped them as they fled pursuing troops, she said.

Local officials in Basilan's Lamitan township said the attack forced about 600 villagers to flee from their homes and seek refuge in a public school building.

Lt Cacho said military reports showed Abu Sayyaf was responsible for the attack on the militia members. Armed civilian groups are common throughout the Philippines to assist authorities fighting various rebel movements.

Lamitan officials, meanwhile, said the attack was carried out by suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country's largest Muslim separatist group. They had been negotiating with the government for self-rule in the south, but talks collapsed after major fighting erupted four-months ago.

Abu Sayyaf has been behind a string of kidnappings for ransom, including of European and Americans. The group, on a US list of terrorist organisations with links to Al-Qaeda, has also plotted bombings and beheaded hostages.

The military has accused the Moro rebels - who have been waging a decades-long war for self-rule in the southern Philippines - of having a tactical alliance with Abu Sayyaf. Moro front leaders deny the charge. -- AP