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