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.