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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Ten killed' in Philippines clash | 'Ten killed' in Philippines clash |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. | They found around 60 rebels hiding there. Three soldiers were wounded in the fighting. |
| It was the heaviest loss for the rebels in Bukidnon province since March this year, Maj Anayron said. | |
| Muslim insurgents | |
| Peace negotiations between the rebels and the government collapsed in 2004 and more recent efforts to revive them have also fallen apart. | 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 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. | 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. |
| The Philippine army is under orders from President Gloria Arroyo to defeat the Maoists by next year. | |
| But Mindanao is also the focus of fighting with Muslim insurgents and powerful clans. | |
| In Maguindanao province on the island, a local ruling Muslim clan allegedly massacred 57 people last month. | |
| However last week, Malaysian mediators said the Philippine government and the Muslim separatists of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, hope to conclude a peace deal next year. |