Tuesday, August 12, 2008 (Philippines)

An election supervisor mans the main controls to the voting terminals at a precinct in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao while voters familiarize themselves with the equipment that will input their choices during Monday's elections for the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (Armm). (Sun.Star Davao/Ben O. Tesiorna) KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Heavily armed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) set up roadblocks along Midsayap-Pikit highway in North Cotabato while they traded bullets with government troops in Barangay Dalingaoen in Pikit around 7:30 a.m. Monday, police and Army officials said. Major Medel Aguilar, 5th Civil Relations Group chief, said MILF rebels attempted to occupy the national highway, but Army troops immediately deployed in the area to stop them and secure the civilians residing there. Visit the Beijing Olympics 2008 blog [full story]