VIDEO | 1.44 mins
There was a fresh round of fighting at Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu this morning following air and ground strikes on the area yesterday.
"At 6.45am, our security forces was fired upon and they were forced to return fire. I understand that one enemy was shot... we believe he was killed," police chief Ismail Omar ( left ) told a press conference in Lahad Datu.
However, he said security forces have not retrieved the body for safety reasons.
He said that, to date, there have been no casualties or injuries among the police and armed forces who conducted the joint operations.
Ismail remained tight-lipped on casualties suffered by the intruders.
"We will give you the full details, hopefully at the end of the operation," he said.
Utusan Malaysia today claimed that 30 Sulu intruders had been killed in yesterday's operation named, 'Ops Daulat'.
The report, which did not state its source, said the total number of Sulu intruders killed stood at 49 as of yesterday.
However, the rumour that Azzimuddie Kiram - the brother of Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram who is leading the armed group at Lahad Datu - has been killed, could not be verified.
Another Malay daily, Berita Harian, quoted anonymous sources as claiming that security forces have found 20 to 30 dead bodies of the enemy during their 'mopping' operation yesterday.
However, these reports cannot yet be verified.
Meanwhile, both Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visited the media centre at Felda Sahabat Residence this afternoon.
Hishammuddin spoke to journalists about the ongoing operation and stressed that all discussions were off the record.
He promised to bring the press' request for better access to the operation to inspector-general of police Ismail Omar.
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