60,000 Evacuate Homes as Military, Rebels Clash
More than 60,000 people have fled their homes to escape renewed fighting between Philippine troops and the country’s biggest Muslim separatist group, officials said.
At least nine Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas have been killed in clashes that began about two weeks ago around Maguindanao province on the southern island of Mindanao, and three government soldiers have been killed and 16 wounded, military spokesmen said.
A total of 6,115 mostly Muslim families, comprising 60,680 people, have sought refuge to avoid being caught in the cross-fire, the Office of Civil Defense said in a report.
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