Army kills rebels in the Philippines

Army kills rebels in the Philippines

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): At least six rebels were killed in fierce fighting on Tuesday as 2,000 soldiers launched a ground assault on a southern separatist training base, Philippine officials said.

A guerrilla spokesman said 10 soldiers were killed, which the military denied while conceding two of its men were killed in an ambush on Monday.

Security forces captured a rebel outpost overnight on the perimeter defense of Camp Omar, a guerrilla base of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), ahead of Tuesday's offensive, division commander Major General Rolando Bautista said.

The attack on Camp Omar -- involving infantrymen supported by mortar and howitzer fire -- came a day after President Joseph Estrada vowed to "give them (MILF) war" following military claims of rebel harassment.