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'Ten killed' in Philippines clash | 'Ten killed' in Philippines clash |
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At least nine communist rebels have been killed in a raid by the Philippine army in southern Mindanao island, an army official has said. | At least nine communist rebels have been killed in a raid by the Philippine army in southern Mindanao island, an army official has said. |
Troops backed by helicopter gunships attacked a rebel camp near Valencia town. One soldier was killed, said army spokesman Major Michelle Anayron. | Troops backed by helicopter gunships attacked a rebel camp near Valencia town. One soldier was killed, said army spokesman Major Michelle Anayron. |
Rifles and other weapons were recovered in the raid on the New People's Army guerrilla camp. | Rifles and other weapons were recovered in the raid on the New People's Army guerrilla camp. |
Maj Anayron said five teams of soldiers converged on the site after a tip-off. | |
They found around 60 rebels hiding there. Three soldiers were wounded in the fighting. | |
Armed wing | |
It was the heaviest loss for the rebels in Bukidnon province since March this year, Mar Anayron said. | |
Peace negotiations between the rebels and the government collapsed in 2004 and more recent efforts to revive them have also fallen apart. | |
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has waged a 40-year battle to seize power. | |
The conflict reached its peak in the 1980s, when the ranks of the Maoist rebels swelled to more than 25,000. Rebel numbers are now thought to be around 5,000. |