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Troops surround militants holding 200 hostages in Mindanao
Philippine government troops reportedly have "contained" hundreds of Muslim militants who have held nearly 200 hostages and key areas of the southern port city of Zamboanga for three days, according to the state-run Philippines News Agency. However, the accounts of independent media conveyed a more dire picture of the standoff with fighters from the breakaway Moro National Liberation Front, who descended on the port Monday and opened fire on security forces.The militants, whose operation has killed at least nine, demand the creation of an Islamic-ruled enclave on the island of Mindanao. Government forces have established a "demarcation line" to prevent the militants from invading other areas of the city. But the rebels were reported to have taken more hostages Wednesday and had lashed about 200 into a human shield behind which they were negotiating, the Philippine Star reported from Zamboanga. Local government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said police and army reinforcements were being brought in to drive the militants from the port, a vital transport and shipping hub that has been locked down for three days and was due to stay idle at least through Thursday. More than 13,000 residents were evacuated to prevent further hostage-taking, Roxas said. He also described the military approach to the confrontation as a "nonaggressive stance," to minimize casualties. Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar said the insurgents were demanding international mediation. She said that a former governor of Sulu province, the rebels' stronghold, had attempted to talk to the gunmen but that "they refuse to listen to anybody locally." Posted by: ryuge 2013-09-12 |
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