The mayor of a town in the Philippines is among 10 people killed in a gunfight with an anti-narcotics squad, police have said.

It is one of the deadliest operations since President Rodrigo Duterte launched a crackdown on illegal drugs.

Police say Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of southern Datu Saudi Ampatuan town and nine others were killed before dawn on Friday when they opened fire from three cars on officers at a checkpoint in Makilala town in North Cotabato province.

According to Superintendent Bernard Tayong, the mayor had been named by Mr Duterte as among many politicians suspected to be involved in illegal drugs.

Police estimate more than 3,600 suspected drug dealers and addicts have been killed since Mr Duterte took office on June 30.

The crackdown has drawn international concern over extrajudicial killings.

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