At least 13 suspected Philippine militants were killed by Malaysian security forces, while the self-proclaimed Philippines sultan called for ceasefire.

Malaysian security forces said they had killed 13 suspected Philippine militants as they expanded their hunt for an elusive armed group on Borneo island on Wednesday, a day after an assault with fighter jets, mortars and hundreds of troops.

The nearly month-long confrontation in the troubled East Malaysian state was sparked when the armed group of about 200 sailed from nearby southern Philippines to press an ancient claim to the resource-rich region.

At least 40 people have been killed, including eight Malaysian policemen, raising concerns of broader insecurity ahead of elections in Malaysia.

However, in the search-and-kill operations for the armed militants, Malaysian troops reported killing 13 of them. Malaysian Defence Minister, Zahid Hamidi, showed the media pictures of some of the dead militants and warned residents to be on alert for members of the group who had likely escaped into nearby plantations.

Meantime, the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III, has called for unilateral  ceasefire at 12:30 pm (0430 GMT), as a response to the call by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to end the violence between the two countries.

Kiram claims that the militants will not take further action as long as the Malaysian troops reciprocate to the call for ceasefire.

However, Malaysia's defence minister has rejected the ceasefire and demands that the militants "surrender unconditionally".

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