New fighting erupts in RP

Thu, 10 Jul 1997 | Source: REUTERS

ZAMBOANGA (Reuter): More fighting erupted in the southern Philippines yesterday despite an order by President Fidel Ramos for the military to cease offensive activity to clear the way for cease-fire talks, an army spokesman said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the clashes, which broke out after about 100 guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) shelled an army command outpost in Buldon town in Maguindanao province, spokesman Captain Salih Indanan told reporters.

Ramos ordered a halt to all army operations against rebels Tuesday to allow for the resumption of cease-fire talks canceled last month after a series of skirmishes between soldiers and the rebels in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

View JSON | Print