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| Southeast Asia |
| 5 communist rebels slain |
| 2010-06-19 |
| [Straits Times] FIVE communist guerrillas were killed and six policemen were wounded in an extended gunbattle in the southern Philippines on Friday, a police spokesman said. About 50 fighters from the New People's Army (NPA) attempted to overrun a small police outpost in the restive island of Mindanao but the police were able to drive them off, said Superintendent Querubin Manalang. Police reinforcements arrived to pursue the fleeing rebels, causing the fighting to spread in the isolated town of Cateel, he said. At least five dead insurgents were seen being dragged away by their comrades while six wounded policemen had to be airlifted to hospital, said Mr Manalang. Fighting with the NPA has stepped up ahead of a deadline imposed by outgoing President Gloria Arroyo for government forces to crush the rebellion by the time she steps down on June 30. At least 15 government soldiers were killed in intensified NPA attacks last month after the May 10 national elections. |
| Posted by:Fred |