4 killed as rebels clash with soldiers

4 killed as rebels clash with soldiers

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Three Moslem rebels and one soldier were killed and at least two others injured in a fresh round of fighting yesterday in the southern Philippines, military officials and radio reports said.

The fresh clash which left at least two government soldiers wounded could be a further blow to efforts to hold peace talks, officials said.

A reporter told church-run Catholic radio DXMS that the ongoing clash yesterday erupted at 7:00 a.m (6:00 a.m. Jakarta time) in the town of Datu Piang in Maguindanao province with military MG-520 attack airplanes pounding a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stronghold here.

Aside from the three rebels killed scores are believed injured, the radio report said.