Fierce clashes between Muslim separatists and government troops have displaced nearly 130,000 people in the southern Philippines
Manila: Fierce clashes have erupted between the army and rebels in the southern Philippines, leaving 20 rebels and seven soldiers dead, the military said on Saturday. Regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce said troops had been checking reports that rebels were massing in the village of Bialong, Maguindanao when fighting erupted.
It was one of the fiercest clashes with the rebels under rebel leader Umbra Kato of the separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Ponce said.
Troops have been ordered to hunt down Kato and two other rogue rebel commanders who led a bloody rampage that killed dozens of civilians in Lanao del Norte province.
Ponce said the rebels were believed to be planning to launch attacks again against civilian communities.
The bloody rampage was unleashed in predominantly Christian communities, provoking a major military offensive that displaced more than half a million people. The clashes have eased to sporadic fighting but tens of thousands of villagers have refused to go home, officials said.
Peace negotiations between the government and the rebels fell apart in August when the Supreme Court blocked the signing of a preliminary accord that would have expanded a Muslim autonomous region in the southern Mindanao region, where a Muslim separatist war has raged for decades.
The accord was challenged by Christian politicians who feared they would lose land, power and clout to minority Muslims.
Courtesy: Gulf News.Com and Canadian Press
Manila: Fierce clashes have erupted between the army and rebels in the southern Philippines, leaving 20 rebels and seven soldiers dead, the military said on Saturday. Regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce said troops had been checking reports that rebels were massing in the village of Bialong, Maguindanao when fighting erupted.It was one of the fiercest clashes with the rebels under rebel leader Umbra Kato of the separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Ponce said.
Troops have been ordered to hunt down Kato and two other rogue rebel commanders who led a bloody rampage that killed dozens of civilians in Lanao del Norte province.Ponce said the rebels were believed to be planning to launch attacks again against civilian communities.
The bloody rampage was unleashed in predominantly Christian communities, provoking a major military offensive that displaced more than half a million people. The clashes have eased to sporadic fighting but tens of thousands of villagers have refused to go home, officials said.
Peace negotiations between the government and the rebels fell apart in August when the Supreme Court blocked the signing of a preliminary accord that would have expanded a Muslim autonomous region in the southern Mindanao region, where a Muslim separatist war has raged for decades.
The accord was challenged by Christian politicians who feared they would lose land, power and clout to minority Muslims.
Courtesy: Gulf News.Com and Canadian Press
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