Suspected rebels kill 10 RP troops

Suspected rebels kill 10 RP troops

PHILIPPINES: Suspected communist rebels ambushed a group of soldiers on a mission to support relief operations for victims of a storm, killing 10 and wounding six others, the military said on Wednesday.

The rebels, however, said they killed 14 soldiers, and denied that the troops were deployed to assist storm victims.

The army earlier said 19 troops were preparing on Tuesday to check bridges and roads destroyed by a rainstorm that left at least 412 people dead and 177 others missing when they were attacked by about 80 New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Bulacan province's San Rafael town, north of Manila.

Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said one guerrilla was also killed in the clash.

The NPA confirmed that one guerrilla was killed.

But it said in a statement that the battle took place in another town of Bulacan not ravaged by the storm. It said the soldiers had been pursuing the guerrillas for the last two weeks, and had ambushed a rebel unit. --AP