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Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Two Philippine marines killed by land mine (3:05 p.m.)
MANILA -- Two Philippine marines were killed Tuesday by an improvised land mine that may have been planted by one of two clans fighting over a piece of land in a southern Philippine village, a naval spokesman said.
The marines - a first lieutenant and a private - from the 11th Marine Battalion in southern Tawi-Tawi province were patrolling in the village of Daldatal outside Sapa-Sapa town when one of them stepped on an improvised explosive device, Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said.
"The officer involved was trying to settle the differences between the two parties, but unfortunately on the way they had an accident," Caculitan said, adding no other details were immediately available.
A day earlier, marines recovered an unexploded improvised land mine.
Caculitan said one of the two clans could have planted the mine to try keep the other away from the disputed piece of land.
Caculitan said no shots were fired at the marines after the blast, which usually follow a rebel ambush. The Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group and bandits also operate in area.(AP) |
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