Philippines troops find 40 ISIS bodies

Philippine troops have captured a building where pro-Islamic State group militants made their final stand in southern Marawi city and found about 40 bodies of suspected gunmen inside, two security officials said Monday.

The officials said the seizure of the building and the defeat of the militants would allow the military to declare later today the end of the Marawi siege, which hundreds of black flag-waving gunmen launched exactly five months ago.

It was not immediately clear how the dozens of suspected militants found in the two-story building near Lake Lanao died but it's possible some committed suicide after they were cornered by troops, one of the officials said.

The siege sparked fears the Islamic State group may gain a foothold in Southeast Asia by influencing and providing funds to local militants as it suffers battle defeats in Syria and Iraq.

UCJ, UNILORIN.