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| Southeast Asia |
| 21 Killed in Clashes in Philippines |
| 2004-08-06 |
| MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Government forces battled Communist rebels in the deadliest fighting in months in the Philippines, capturing a major insurgent camp, officials said Friday. Twenty-one militants and soldiers were killed. The New People's Army camp was overrun in southern Agusan del Norte province on Thursday. Twelve rebels and five soldiers were killed and 13 troops were wounded, the military said. On Friday, two guerrillas and two members of police special forces were killed and four other officers were wounded in clashes in Zambales province northwest of Manila, provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Wilson Victorio said. The captured camp in the village of Guinbasan was used as a staging area for rebel operations in the area, about 480 miles southeast of Manila, a military report said. It said the rebels were preparing a raid on the nearby city of Nasipit when two platoons attacked. The government and the rebels have opened talks to end the 35-year-old communist insurgency, but have not agreed to a cease-fire. Another round of talks, the fourth this year, has been scheduled later this month at a still undisclosed location. Previous talks have been held in Oslo, Norway. Meanwhile, army chief Lt. Gen. Efren Abu refused to suspend military operations in Camarines Sur province on the main island of Luzon where rebels are holding an army lieutenant and a private who were captured following a gunbattle in March. "We will not negotiate with the communists," he said. However, he said the military would "cooperate" if private parties, including the families of the captives, negotiate with the rebels. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 This is a very old war. Actually two old wars - one vs Moslems and against Communists. Both are past their thirtieth birthday. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2004-08-06 2:31:31 PM |
| #2 They're probably going to have a two-front war at home before next summer. |
| Posted by: joe 2004-08-06 2:03:50 PM |
| #1 more people die fighting terrorism in the Philippines than in iraq...wonder if they pull out if it gets too hot ... |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-08-06 12:17:46 PM |