RP separatists kill seven soldiers

RP separatists kill seven soldiers

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (DPA): At least seven soldiers were killed and 26 others wounded on Tuesday when Muslim separatist guerrillas attacked a military truck in the southern Philippines, an army spokesman said.

Capt. Noel Detoyato, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said up to 100 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels staged the ambush along a major highway in Matanog town, Maguindanao province, 960 kilometers south of Manila.

Detoyato said the soldiers came from the village of Tugaig located inside the captured MILF main headquarters, Camp Abubakar, and were on their way to buy food and other supplies in a nearby town when attacked.

MILF spokesman Ed Cabalu claimed the guerrillas killed more than 20 soldiers in the ambush.