Troops kill four communist rebels

Troops kill four communist rebels

MANILA (AFP): Elite government Scout Rangers overran a communist base south of Manila yesterday and killed four guerrillas, the military announced.

The soldiers attacked the base in the village of Ulisan, Quezon province, according to the report.

The rebels retreated, leaving four of their comrades dead as well as seven firearms, ammunition and communications equipment.

Communist guerrillas have been waging a war for the past 28 years, but military officials said their number has dwindled from a peak of 26,000 in 1986 to only 5,000 now.