Fourteen Malaysian fishermen arrested last week by Philippine authorities for alleged poaching near the southern maritime border of the two countries have been released, a military official said today.

"All of them, who are male, are in safe condition," the commander of the Fifth Malaysian Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Mohamad Yassin Yahya told the Bernama news agency.

The 14 Malaysians, aboard four Malaysian trawlers, were intercepted by Philippine police and navy near the Turtle Islands off the southern Tawi-Tawi islands on Aug 26.

The Malaysians and their boats were turned over to police in Taganak island. They were charged with illegal fishing and illegal entry into Philippine territory. - AFP