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Latest reports indicate that Abu Sayyaf factions are on the run from fast advancing troops in the heart of the forest. Some members have been arrested and others are still fighting their way out of the sealed island.

Waves of assaults by helicopter gunships and fighter planes began at dawn, followed by a ground force assault by thousands of military troops and armored vehicles. Sporadic gun battles between the Abu Sayyaf and Philippine army soldiers initiated the onslaught.

Residents fleeing the attack area said scores of people, mostly civilians, were killed or wounded in the blitz on Abu Sayyaf bases. But they said they had no firm figures, and the government gave no details.

However, an official from Philippine President Joseph Estrada's office stated that, as of yet, none of the 19 hostages were injured or killed in the fighting which is still raging as of 11:30AM Philippine time.

The Abu Sayyaf are still holding two French television journalists, an American and three Malaysians, in addition to 13 Filipinos.

Four of the European hostages managed to escape while factions of the Abu Sayyaf group were fighting over ransom payments. They went into hiding until they were pulled out of the area by advancing Philippine army troops.

Several hours after the raid began, President Estrada's office said troops had reached the Abu Sayyaf's camps and the rescue operation was nearing its conclusion.

Earlier, in a somber address to the nation, Estrada said he was aware of the grave risk posed to the hostages, but he had no choice but to act.

"Enough is enough," a grim-faced President Joseph Estrada said on national television.

"I made this difficult decision to authorize the military operation aware of the grave risks that the hostages and our soldiers will face," he said.

"It is clear that the efforts of our government toward a peaceful, long-term resolution of the problem are being scoffed at by the Abu Sayyaf group.

"...This situation cannot last one minute longer. I will not allow this to continue."

Officials said fierce fighting started just past midnight on Saturday and battles raged into the evening, especially around the areas where the hostages were held. Resistance was strong causing Philippine army soldiers to call for air reinforcement.

Light bombers and helicopter gunships pounded Abu Sayyaf bases at dawn and throughout the day, residents said.

The thuds of falling bombs could be heard in the main town, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the guerrilla hideouts in the jungle. The fighter-bombers attacked in two by two formations.

The Abu Sayyaf group is said to have been engaged in fratricidal infighting amidst falling bombs from the Philippine air force.

Landing craft brought thousands of troops ashore with many taking up positions in and around Jolo town to secure the area, a source at the scene said. Two brigades of four battalions arrived at midnight, a force of about 3,000 men.

Others took up positions near areas held by the Abu Sayyaf, who have beefed up their numbers, firearms and ammunition from the millions of dollars in ransoms obtained for the release of earlier hostages.

There have been several clashes between Abu Sayyaf factions arising over disputes concerning shares of ransom money estimated lately to be around $18 million, half of which was paid by Libya through the Gadhafi International Association for Charitable Organization, headed by Muammar Gadhafi's son, Seif Al-Islam.

Local officials have estimated the number of rebels at about 5,000, but say only about 500 to 1,000 of them are hardcore and likely to fight. The rest are recent recruits attracted by easy ransom pickings and could flee.

A naval blockade has been imposed around Jolo, and low-flying military planes were seen passing over Zamboanga, the nerve center of the southern Philippines military command, about 150 km (93 miles) northeast of Jolo.

BBC correspondent in Manila, John McLean, says the government is clearly trying to hit the rebels as hard as it can, but the terrain is hostile to outsiders and the millions of dollars, which the kidnappers have received, have allowed them to buy new weapons.

France said on Saturday it disagreed with the Philippine government's decision to attack and added it would hold Manila responsible for the safety of two French citizens held hostage.

"The head of state has made known through our ambassador his very deep anxiety and disagreement with this initiative which is dangerous for the safety of the hostages," a statement from President Jacques Chirac's office said.

Malaysia said whatever the Philippines did was its own responsibility. Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi however added: "I am a little bit worried because we have three Malaysians held."

Visiting U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said he was told an attack was imminent on Friday night. "We hope now that they have decided to take action, it will be successful, but it was a decision only they could make," he told accompanying reporters before leaving for Singapore.

Observers believe that the U.S. offered logistic and "special" support to the Philippine army in their onslaught against the Sayyaf stronghold. They believe American marines, in dual exercises with the Philippine military, devised the entire plan late last week.