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Southeast Asia
Philippine troops raid MILF rebels, 6 dead
2007-01-27
Fighting erupted in the southern Philippines on Saturday between security forces and Muslim separatists engaged in a peace process with the government and at least six people were killed, rebels and military officials said. Mohaqher Iqbal, chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), told Reuters soldiers were shelling rebel positions in Midsayap, a farming town in North Cotabato province.

"Fighting is still raging in Midsayap," Iqbal told Reuters by telephone from a hideout on the southern island of Mindanao. "We're still trying to confirm if our troops suffered some casualties because OV-10 planes were also indiscriminately dropping bombs in several villages in Midsayap."

Iqbal said the conflict was ignited by a land dispute between native Muslims and Christian settlers in Midsayap, and hundreds of villagers had fled the area. "The fighting must be stopped because it could affect the peace process. We've called up the international peace monitors to defuse the tension before it could further escalate into a full-blown war."

Lieutenant-Colonel Julieto Ando, a military spokesman in Cotabato, said six people were killed in the fighting including three rebels and three members of a pro-government militia. He said fighting broke out when soldiers chased a group of armed men raiding rice farms in Midsayap, seizing produce from local farmers.

Iqbal said the troops were using 105 mm howitzers and aerial bombardment. "We're definitely filing a protest before the ceasefire panel," he said, asking the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team to help stop the military operations.

A truce between the government and the MILF, the largest of four Muslim rebel groups in the southern Philippines, has been holding since July 2003 despite minor skirmishes.

Peace talks, brokered by Malaysia since March 2001, were stalled in May last year because of differences over the size and wealth of a proposed homeland for about 3 million Muslims in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic country. Last December, the MILF rejected a proposal by the government to resume negotiations because it was not satisfied with offers that would expand the existing five-province autonomous region for Muslims.
Posted by:ryuge

#3  But they cant hit shit, they're phils. The best they can do is get w/in a grid of the enemy. No sights no training, they suck.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2007-01-27 10:45  

#2   OV-10 planes were also indiscriminately dropping bombs

Bullshit, pilots aim carefully
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2007-01-27 10:00  

#1  Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Another victory against the MILF.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-01-27 09:14  

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