Malaysia threatens 'drastic' steps in Borneo siege

LAHAD DATU (Malaysia) (AFP) - Malaysia threatened on Saturday to take "drastic action" against intruding followers of a self-claimed Philippine sultan, after their tense standoff erupted in a shootout that killed 14 people.

Twelve followers of the little-known sultan of Sulu and two Malaysian security personnel were killed in Friday's firefight, police have said, as the more than two-week-old siege in a remote corner of Malaysia turned deadly.

The dozens of Filipinos have been holed up on Borneo island, surrounded by a massive Malaysian police and military cordon, since landing by boat from their nearby Philippine islands to insist the area belongs to their Islamic leader.

"We want them to surrender immediately. If they don't, they will face drastic action," Hamza Taib, police chief of the Malaysian state of Sabah where the drama was taking place, said.