Four guerrillas were killed clashes between rival Muslim separatist rebels in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said Wednesday, dpa reported.
Seven guerrillas from two groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were wounded in the fighting in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Hao said.
Hao said more than 3,000 civilians fled their homes when the fighting erupted Saturday after one group of MILF guerrillas encroached on the territory of another group.
"They have been shelling each other's positions with mortars," he said.
Hao said two air force planes dropped smoke bombs on the conflict area in a bid to stop the fighting.
The MILF is the largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines, fighting for an independent Islamic state in the region. It has been engaged peace talks with the government since 1997.