Rebels take road in new fighting

Rebels take road in new fighting

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (AP): Army troops clashed with Muslim rebels who occupied a major road in a southern province on Monday in fresh fighting that could threaten peace talks, rebel leaders and officials said.

As in the past, military officials and leaders of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front blamed each other for the clashes, which began on Saturday in the town of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao province.

Brig. Gen. Jose Torrelavega said the fighting started when army troops sent to check reports of a rebel occupation of an area near the town hall of Maguindanao's Ampatuan town were fired upon by MILF guerrillas.

He said sporadic fighting spread to Shariff Aguak, where the rebels occupied and blockaded a major road on Monday with vehicles seized from motorists. At least six rebels were killed, Torrelavega said. He said six soldiers were wounded in the clashes.