Muslim rebels launch new assault on troops in southern Philippines

Muslim rebels clashed with troops and took hostages in a fresh outbreak of violence in the strife-torn southern Philippines yesterday.

The fighting in the centre of Mindanao island came as a stand-off with another Muslim armed group elsewhere in Mindanao entered its third week.

Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attacked pro-government volunteers in the town of Midsayap before dawn yesterday but retreated when military reinforcements arrived, army spokesman Colonel Dickson Hermoso said. Four soldiers and four rebels were killed in the battle.

The rebels then took 15 schoolteachers and farmers to use as human shields against pursuit, Hermoso said.

All 15 hostages later escaped or were freed by the troops, Hermoso said, but added a group of about 10 teachers were missing, either trapped in a school by gunfire between the troops and rebels, or taken hostage by the rebels.

Both Hermoso and BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama said the latest fighting was not related to the three-week-long conflict with another Muslim rebel group in Zamboanga city, about 270 kilometres from Midsayap.