Philippine army-communist rebel clashes kill 6
-A A +AMonday, October 22, 2012
MANILA -- Four soldiers and two communist rebels were killed in two clashes in Gandara town in Samar province that also wounded 10 people, officials said Monday.
Army Captain Gene Orense said that troops securing soldiers in a civic project chanced upon New People's Army rebels in Gandara late Sunday, triggering a firefight in which four soldiers died and two others were wounded. He said the rebels withdrew with an unknown number of casualties.
Orense said additional army troops were deployed to the area to conduct pursuit operations against the insurgents.
In Compostela Valley, two communist guerrillas were killed also on Sunday when troops repulsed about 60 rebels who attacked them.
Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Borja, the battalion commander, said seven soldiers and a civilian were wounded.
The 43-year-old communist insurgency is one of Asia's longest-running.
Talks brokered by Norway to end the conflict have stalled over disagreements between government and rebel negotiators seeking the release of about a dozen senior leaders held in detention. (AP)
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