KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The government said Thursday (February 14th) that its security forces have surrounded 80 to 100 suspected Philippine militants in a remote area of Sabah, on Borneo island, AFP reported.

The area has a history of incursions by armed Filipino Islamic groups.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters that "the situation is still under control, and that ... no Malaysian citizens were being held hostage or for ransom."

He said security forces were negotiating with the men – some of them armed – near the small coastal town of Lahad Datu.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted by The Star newspaper as saying police were negotiating with the gunmen "to get the group to leave peacefully to prevent bloodshed".

Late Wednesday, National Police Chief Ismail Omar said in a statement that the men had surrendered and the situation was defused. AFP reported that the government has not yet explained the discrepancy in accounts.