(CNN) -- Five Filipino soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded during an overnight gun battle with a faction of a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines' southern region, a military spokesman said.



Filipino soldiers check weapons captured from Moro Islamic Liberation Front militants in November.



The fighting in Basilan province broke out after ongoing peace negotiations with rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) hit an impasse, said Maj. Ramon Zagala.



Early reports indicated the fighters were from a rogue faction of the front, but the military later identified them as members of the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the al Qaeda terrorist network, Zagala said.



Abu Sayyaf members were seeking refuge in MILF-controlled towns, drawing a military response, Zagala said. The militants retaliated Sunday with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, he said.



The splinter group originally believed to have been involved in the firefight, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, issued a statement accusing Filipino troops of using artillery and "indiscriminately" launched airstrikes.The statement, posted Monday on a pro-Moro Website, included no report of casualties.



The government of the Philippines has been involved in peace negotiations with Moro Islamic Liberation Front since 2003.



CNN's Tess Eastment contributed to this report.
Who are the fighting? When did fighting begin? What did sayyaf do? What were the militants trying to do? Who fought the rogue faction of a Muslim separatist group? What is the name of the separatist group?
a faction of a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines' after ongoing peace negotiations with rogue members of the Moro Islamic seeking refuge in MILF-controlled towns, seeking refuge in MILF-controlled towns, Filipino soldiers Moro Islamic Liberation Front
question: Who are the fighting?, answer: a faction of a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines' | question: When did fighting begin?, answer: after ongoing peace negotiations with rogue members of the Moro Islamic | question: What did sayyaf do?, answer: seeking refuge in MILF-controlled towns, | question: What were the militants trying to do?, answer: seeking refuge in MILF-controlled towns, | question: Who fought the rogue faction of a Muslim separatist group?, answer: Filipino soldiers | question: What is the name of the separatist group?, answer: Moro Islamic Liberation Front