Philippine security forces killed eight Muslim rebels Thursday as they hunted the remnants of a guerrilla force hiding in homes of a major city and believed to be holding hostages.

A soldier also died, the military reported, bringing the death toll from 11 days of fierce street battles in the southern port city of Zamboanga to at least 114.

Muslim rebels took potshots at Philippine troops Wednesday as they hid behind hostages who were roped together pleading for mercy, on the third day of a deadly siege in a key southern city.

As the fighting intensified in Zamboanga city with soldiers backed by armored troop carriers hunting down snipers and rebels, thousands more residents fled, many of them taking refuge in a sports stadium.