Muslim Rebels Reportedly Kill 15 in Philippines
Muslim guerrillas staged three attacks on villages in the southern Philippines, killing at least 15 people, including 12 civilians, military officials said Sunday.
Meanwhile, officials announced the arrests of 26 people, including Muslim rebels trained in bomb-making, on suspicion of involvement in recent explosions at two large shopping malls in Manila.
The village attacks on the southern island of Mindanao came just days before the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and the government are to resume peace talks.
On Saturday, a group of MILF rebels killed eight villagers, including two children, in Pantar in Lanao del Sur province after the villagers refused to ambush government soldiers passing through, the military said.
Later in the day, about 75 MILF rebels attacked Licomo in Zamboanga del Sur province, officials said, killing at least four civilians.
About 100 MILF attacked a predominantly Christian village in Kabuntalan early Sunday, the military said, killing three militiamen.
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