Battle for Philippine town abates as troops mark Islamic holiday

Philippines police officers perform Eid al-Fitr prayers outside a mosque inside city hall compound as government forces continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, who have taken over large parts of Marawi City, Philippines June 25, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) - Fighting between government forces and Islamist rebels holed up in the heart of a southern Philippine town eased on Sunday as the military sought to enforce a temporary truce to mark the Eid al-Fitr Islamic holiday.

Small skirmishes took place early in the day in parts of Marawi City, where fighters loyal to Islamic State were clinging on for a fifth week, as rebel snipers fired on positions held by troops who declared a unilateral, eight-hour halt on offensives until early in the afternoon.