Islamic extremists in the southern Philippines ambushed a military convoy Wednesday by planting a landmine that killed three soldiers, the latest outbreak of violence as the government cracks down on the militants.

The military convoy of three vehicles was traveling on the southern island of Jolo to secure a road project when a truck hit the landmine.

A military assault on Islamic militants in the southern Philippines entered its fifth day on Saturday, with the toll rising to 24 guerrillas and two soldiers dead, officials said.

Ten Abu Sayyaf militants were killed in a two-hour clash on Friday after the army pounded their jungle lair on Jolo island with artillery and helicopter gunships, said Colonel Alan Arrojado, who is leading the assault.

French President Francois Hollande met survivors of one of the world's strongest typhoons in a remote Philippine coastal town on Friday, seeking to sound a global alarm on climate change ahead of a crucial U.N. summit.

Hollande is on a two-day trip to the Southeast Asian archipelago, regarded as a frontline state in the struggle against global warming, as part of his campaign to build diplomatic momentum ahead of the Paris summit in December.

French President Francois Hollande called Thursday for a climate change "alliance" with the Philippines that could spur similar co-operation between rich and poor nations at a crucial U.N. summit.

Hollande made the appeal shortly after landing in the Philippines with two of France's leading actresses for a trip aimed primarily at mobilising global action in the fight against global warming.

President Francois Hollande arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, accompanied by two of France's leading actresses, to promote the fight against climate change ahead of a crucial summit of world leaders.

The two-day trip, the first by a French president to the Philippines, is part of Hollande's campaign to build diplomatic momentum ahead of the United Nations event that France will host in December. 

A Philippine military assault against Islamic militants on a remote southern island triggered a day-long battle on Wednesday that left five rebels and two soldiers dead, authorities said.

The military said it used artillery and helicopter gunships as they pressed on with the latest stage of a months-long offensive to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf, which is blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in recent Philippine history.

A U.S. Marine charged with murdering a transgender Filipina refused to enter a plea on Monday, prompting a court to submit not guilty for him so his trial could go ahead, prosecutors said.

Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton declined to make a plea because he wants a higher court to first hear his appeal for the case to be dismissed, lawyers for the victim told reporters outside the court.

French President Francois Hollande will discuss international terrorism when he meets his Philippine counterpart Benigno Aquino this week, a spokesman said Sunday.

The French leader's state visit from Thursday-Friday will focus on climate change but the recent attacks in Paris have also brought security to the forefront, said Aquino spokesman Herminio Coloma.

Philippine Muslim rebels said Friday they acted purely in "self-defense" in a clash that killed 44 police commandos in the volatile south last month, despite police claims that they were ambushed.

January's botched anti-terror operation in Maguindanao province saw the single biggest loss of life of government forces in recent memory and has cast doubt over the peace process, sparking calls for the resignation of President Benigno Aquino.

Eight communist guerrillas and four soldiers have been killed in separate clashes in the southern Philippines, a hotbed of one of the world's last Maoist rebellions, the military said Tuesday.

One female and six male members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed in skirmishes Monday near Alabel on the south coast of Mindanao island, a military statement said.