Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the southern region of Mindanao, where security forces have been battling Islamic State group- linked militants. Spokesman Ernesto Abella yesterday said in a nationally televised briefing from Moscow where the President was on an official visit. <br/><br/>Abella said martial law would be in place for 60 days. Abella said Duterte would cut short his trip to Moscow and return to the Philippines.<br/><br/>The announcement came after security forces battled dozens of gunmen in a built-up area of Marawi, a city of about 200,000 people in Mindanao on Tuesday. Marawi is about 800 kilometres south of the capital, Manila.