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7 dead in attack in Philippines
[Straits Times] SEVEN people were killed and 1,000 forced to flee their homes as fresh fighting broke out when Muslim separatist guerrillas attacked civilians in the southern Philippines, the military said on Tuesday. One civilian was killed and six others wounded when militants from the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) harassed residents of Tulunan town, forcing the military to intervene on Sunday, a statement said.Soldiers clashed with the MILF fighters and an air force OV-10 attack plane bombed their positions, forcing the rebels to withdraw. Fighting continued into Tuesday as soldiers pursued the rebels, said military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Ponce, adding that six guerrillas had been confirmed dead so far. Several villages near the combat area were totally abandoned as residents fled the fighting, the military said. Although some residents had returned home after the rebels left, many were still staying at evacuation centres set up in nearby villages, said local police spokesman Chief Inspector Alexander Sarabia. Posted by: Fred 2009-05-06 |
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