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.