U.S. troops fired on in Philippines

MANILA (Reuters) - U.S. troops were fired on by suspected Muslim militants in the southern Philippines earlier this week, but no one was hurt, a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said Thursday.

The incident took place on the island of Jolo Tuesday, when the soldiers, escorted by Philippines troops, were on their way to inspect a development project, Rebecca Thompson told reporters.

Jolo is the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf militants, a small but deadly group of insurgents. They are believed responsible for the worst terror attack in the Philippines, an attack on a ferry in 2004 in which at least 100 people were killed.

U.S. troops have been in the southern Philippines since 2002 to provide Philippine soldiers training and logistical support, and to help carry out development projects.

They are forbidden under the terms of the agreement between the two countries to engage in combat operations, although they carry weapons and have the right to defend themselves.

At any given time, about 300 U.S. troops are in the southern Philippines.

Colonel Eugene Clemen, a Philippine brigade commander based on Jolo, said Philippine troops returned fire and a brief gunbattle ensued after Tuesday's attack.

"We did not suffer any casualty but some of the attackers were wounded," he told reporters on Jolo.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo canceled a visit to Jolo Thursday but the provincial governor said it was due to bad weather and not linked to the security situation.

(Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)