while his wife Gracia was injured but rescued in a gun battle between government troops and Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels, the military said.
A Philippines army spokesman, Colonel Francisco Gudani, told reporters that hundreds of troops failed to rescue her husband Martin or Philippine nurse Edeborah Yap, who were captured by the rebels a little more than a year ago.
Both died in the fighting near the town of Zamboanga del Norte, military officials said.
MAJOR SETBACK
Reporters described the latest developments as a major set-back for not only Christians around the world, but also for United States President George W. Bush, who has send troops to the troubled region.
The Philippine Correspondent of BosNewsLife, Noel T. Tarrazona, had earlier warned that residents in the area doubted that joint anti-terrorism training between US and Philippine soldiers would be enough to capture the elusive abductors of the missionary couple.
The Burnhams, a Christian missionary couple from the town of Wichita, in the U.S. Midwestern state of Kansas, were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf from a seaside resort more in May 2001, while reportedly celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary.
DOZENS CAPTURED
Dozens of people were captured with them and in a series of raids that followed. Some have been killed, including the beheaded Californian Guillermo Sobero who was captured with the Burnhams, but most were released for ransom.
In a video taken in November, Martin said he and Gracia shared a hammock but "each night I am chained to a tree by my left wrist". "Every time I hear a twig snap, I think it’s a gunshot," Gracia Burnham said as her husband stood beside her.
Both looked in poor health and there were reports earlier this month that Martin Burnham was suffering from malaria, the British Broadcasting Corporation said.
Christians around the world have prayed for the missionary workers and the nurse.
