Six people, including a baby, were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on houses near military barracks in Patikul town in Sulu, 900 kilometers south of Manila at dawn Friday, said the police.

Survivors of the attack said the victims were asleep when they were killed.

Local military officers said the identity of the gunmen is yet to be determined.

Clan warfare is the main cause of bloodshed in southern Philippines.

Ten people were killed in Mindanao's Lanao Sur province Wednesday when gunmen shot at a billiard room in an apparent clan conflict.

The latest attack took place when hundreds of Filipino and U.S. soldiers were holding a joint military exercise in Sulu.

Geographically close to Malaysia and impoverished by years of conflict, Sulu remains restive and is considered a lair of the Abu Sayyaf rebels and renegade members of the Moro National Liberation Front secessionist organization.

Source: Xinhua