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Thursday, November 23, 2006
MILF says troops attacked rebel forces in southern RP
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has accused government soldiers of attacking rebel forces on Monday in the southern Philippines.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said troops fired at rebels in the village of Kuloy in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao province, sparking a brief gun battle.
Sun.Star Network Online round-by-round coverage of the Pacquiao-Morales Sunday fight here
"Philippine government soldiers attacked rebel forces and triggered a brief exchange of gunfire. Luckily, no one was killed on the MILF side."
"We still don't know if there were military casualties. The military attack is a violation of the ceasefire agreement," he said.
Kabalu said soldiers from the Army's 64th Infantry Battalion were responsible for the attack.
He said the MILF protested the attack and that Malaysian-led international ceasefire observers are investigating the incident.
Military commanders in the area did not give any statement and ignored phone calls from reporters.
Sporadic fighting between soldiers and rebels had been reported in the past with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce.
President Gloria Arroyo opened peace talks in 2001 with the MILF, the country's largest separatist rebel group fighting for an independent Muslim state in the southern region, in an effort to put an end to more than three decades of fighting in Mindanao. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (November 23, 2006 issue)
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