Update | Philippine military alleges that Muslim splinter group was using child soldiers in Mindanao

Photographs of child soldiers were among the items left behind as the military overran a camp of hardline Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines, a military commander said yesterday.

Colonel Edgardo Gonzales said that he found the photos when he inspected the 7.5- hectare camp of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) rebel group in the remote town of Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

"There were pictures of children carrying rifles. Some looked like they were 12 years old," Gonzales said as he searched through the abandoned camp about 800km south of Manila. "I believe it was not just for show. I believe those rifles were issued to them."

The military launched an offensive against the BIFF on Monday, just two days after the government successfully concluded peace talks with the main Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The week's fighting left one soldier and at least 53 BIFF members dead, including three child soldiers recruited by the rebels, the military said.

The colonel said he had not personally seen child soldiers but his men had reported encountering them in battles with the group.