Fresh fighting erupts in RP

Fresh fighting erupts in RP

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Fresh fighting between Moslem rebels and government troops erupted in the troubled south Saturday, despite a new cease-fire pact and scheduled peace talks, officials said.

About 100 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels pounded four army detachments with mortar and grenade launchers outside this southern Philippine city, only hours after a cease-fire took effect.

"The MILF launched simultaneous attacks at 9:45 (0145 GMT) this morning against four detachments. Because of that we had to retaliate," said local army spokesman Captain Julieto Ando.

Fighting in surrounding areas was continuing as dusk approached but the soldiers have been instructed "not to move and not to fire back" in a bid to save the peace talks from totally collapsing, Ando told AFP.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the latest outbreak of hostilities, in Matanog town in Maguindanao province, which came after the cease-fire was called at 6:00 a.m. (2200 GMT).