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Southeast Asia
Philippine Army Reports 14 Rebels Killed
2003-04-14
EFL
Muslim rebels fired rocket-propelled grenades at an army detachment in the southern Philippines, triggering a firefight that left 12 guerrillas dead and two soldiers wounded. The guerrillas claimed to kill three soldiers. In a separate clash, troops killed two suspected rebels from another Muslim group who were on a boat, apparently trying to escape a military offensive.
Run, er, float away!
Also Monday, Philippine prosecutors filed murder and multiple attempted murder charges against 151 Muslim separatist leaders and alleged rebels for an April 2 bombing that killed 16 people in southern Davao city. Those charged include Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Hashim Salamat. Salamat and other rebel leaders have been charged separately over a March 4 bombing outside Davao's airport that killed 22 people and injured more than 100 others.
Ah, but is he actually in custody? I don't recall seeing that he is...
In Sunday's first clash, about 40 MILF guerrillas attacked soldiers in Maguindanao province's Barira town. The military retaliated by firing 105 mm howitzers to drive away the rebels. Troops counted 12 bodies that later were claimed by relatives.
RPGs vs 105s, you guys have watched "Blackhawk Down" way too many times.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu acknowledged the rebels launched the attack, and said they killed three soldiers. The rebels suffered fewer casualties than the military claimed, he said.
Rule number 37b., subsection 11: "Never admit you suffered as many casualties as you did."
In nearby North Cotabato province, a farmer was killed and his three siblings, including a 5-year-old boy, were injured late Sunday when MILF rebels strafed their house in Pikit town.
Strafed? They got a air force?
It was unclear why the rebels attacked the civilians, but Ando said the victims were among those people recently returning to Buliok, a former rebel stronghold seized by the military in February.
Killing civilians is what they do.
In another clash early Monday, army troops and pro-government militias wearing night-vision goggles killed two suspected Abu Sayyaf Muslim pirates rebels aboard a boat off southern Jolo Island, officials said. The rebels apparently were fleeing a military offensive to nearby Basilan, officials said. A soldier and a militiaman were wounded in the sea clash off Basilan's Maluso town. Soldiers recovered the rebels' bodies, backpacks, rebel documents, two rifles and their motor boat.
A good nights work.
Posted by:Steve

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