ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - Two kidnapped telecom workers have been rescued from suspected Muslim extremist gunmen in the southern Philippines, police said on Saturday, but their abductors escaped.

Officers clashed with the gunmen holding employees of the cellphone giant Globe Telecom in Basilan island late Friday and drove the captives to safety, said Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, the provincial police chief.

"The two hostages have been recovered safely and reunited with their families," he added, confirming the freeing of the two men abducted on July 16.

However the gunmen managed to escape under the cover of darkness. There were no reports of casualties on injuries on either side, Macapantar said.

Muslim extremists, known to kidnap Christians and foreigners in the southern Philippines for ransom, were suspected to be behind the seizure of the two which was the latest in a rash of abductions in the area.

Just weeks ago, a Muslim extremist gang seized and then freed five electricity workers on the island just weeks ago, reportedly receiving a hefty ransom as well.

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