Antikidnapping push leaves 20 dead

Antikidnapping push leaves 20 dead

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Eight rebels and two marines were
killed overnight in an antikidnapping offensive by the Philippine
military, bringing the weekend death toll to 20, an army official
said yesterday.

The new casualties were killed in fighting late Sunday in the
town of Sultan sa Barongis south of here, raising the death toll
to 20 since fighting began Saturday, army spokesman Capt. Noel
Detoyato said.

The offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
follows the kidnapping of 43 surveyors of the state-run
Philippine National Oil Company last week by the rebel group.

The military pressure prompted the release of the captives and
the army pressed its drive in an effort to track down the
kidnappers.