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Two Muslim rebels killed in fierce fighting in southern Philippines

Other News Materials 25 May 2008 09:43 (UTC +04:00)

Two Muslim secessionist rebels were killed Sunday in a clash with government troops on a southern Philippine island, the military said.

It said 10 soldiers were also wounded in the fighting that erupted at dawn when Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas and Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels attacked a marine outpost in Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila.

The rebels also ambushed a team of government troops who were to provide reinforcement to the beleaguered marines, destroying an armored personnel carrier.

Civilians in nearby areas have fled their homes for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

The area is a known lair of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels but the MILF is maintaining an encampment there.

Peace talks between the Philippines and MILF was stalled since February this year over disagreements on the controversial issue of ancestral domain which include expansion of the current five-province Muslim autonomous region in the strife-torn Mindao island, dpa reported.

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