Philippines troops clash with Muslim separatists in south

Clashes erupted between government troops and Muslim separatist guerrillas in the southern Philippines on Wednesday, weeks ahead of possible peace talks, officials of both sides said.


There were no immediate reports of casualties in the fighting around Mamasapano town on Mindanao island, which the military alleged was sparked by a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrilla attack on an Army outpost.

The fighting broke a two year-old truce that was being observed by more than 60 international military monitors from Brunei and Malaysia.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu blamed the military for starting the violence, adding that fighting has spread to several nearby villages.

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