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Manila Wednesday (AFP) Two US Pave Hawk helicopters exchanged fire with suspected Muslim rebels in the first direct combat since US forces were deployed in the southern Philippines, local military officials said Wednesday.

There were no reports of any casualties among the American soldiers who were flying supplies into Basilan island when the incident occurred late Monday, local military commander Colonel Alexander Aleo said.

It was the first incident of direct combat between US troops in Basilan and suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim armed group believed linked to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden, suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks in the United States.

About 1,000 US troops have been deployed in batches in the southern Philippines since January 31, to help local soldiers track down the Abu Sayyaf but the US role is limited to training, support and providing advice and assessment.

The Americans, whose deployment is scheduled to end in July, are not allowed to engage in combat unless fired upon.

Major Richard Sater, the spokesman of US forces in the south, dismissed the incident, saying the shooting occurred during war games among local and US soldiers.

"It was not a hostile fire. It was a coordinated exercise. They (the helicopters) fired blanks," Sater said.

But Philippine military spokesman Colonel Fredesvindo Covarrubias maintained it was an attack by Abu Sayyaf members as the helicopters were flying above the treetops of Tuburan, a known haunt of the notorious kidnapping group. 

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