Philippine rebels take hundreds hostage
About 200 Muslim rebels held nearly 300 people hostage Monday after clashing with government troops and rampaging through coastal communities in the southern Philippines, leaving at least eight people dead, officials said.
The fighting occurred after troops backed by tanks blocked the Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas — armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers — from marching into Zamboanga city, a major port city, to raise their flag at city hall, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
He said Philippine military had boxed the rebels into a Muslim coastal slum, Rio Hondo. The rebels are refusing to negotiate with security forces, he said.
The violence is the latest flare-up of Muslim unrest that has plagued the country's poverty-stricken Mindanao region on and off for decades. It shatters years of relative calm in Zamboanga city, a predominantly Christian region 540 miles south of Manila.
The Moro group signed a 1996 peace accord with the government, but hundreds of its fighters held on to their arms and have accused officials of reneging on a promise to develop an autonomous region for minority Muslims in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic country.
Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco said sporadic gun battles killed a navy special forces member, a policeman and four civilians, and that 24 civilians, rebels and soldiers were wounded. The military said at least two guerrillas were killed.
"Everything is being done to solve the crisis as soon as possible with minimal damage to lives and properties," Climaco said.
The military and police initially reported 20 residents were being held hostage by the rebels but Zagala said later Monday that up to 290 people were being held captive in three villages near Rio Hondo based on reports by government forces.
Alberto Sumalpong Jr. said he and his family were awakened by blasts of gunfire and then fled to safety from their village, but he later returned to check on their belongings. "Some villagers returned to check on their houses but ended up also being taken hostage," he told The Associated Press by telephone.
Zagala said the rebels planned to march into Zamboanga, a bustling port city of nearly a million people, and hoist their flag at city hall but government forces discovered the plan three days ago and took defensive positions.
"We cannot allow another armed force to march around our cities. That is unacceptable," he said.
TV footage showed troops and police in battle gear taking cover behind buildings as residents fled with bags of clothes. Troops secured a hospital, and most stores, businesses and schools in the city were shut.
Read More
8 killed as Muslim rebels clash with troops and take hostages in southern Philippines
About 300 Muslim rebels were in a hostage standoff Monday with government troops after a rampage through coastal communities in the southern Philippines left at least eight people dead, officials said.
The fighting happened after the troops backed by tanks blocked Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas — armed by assault rifles — from marching into Zamboanga city to raise their flag at city hall, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
He said the rebels were boxed into a Muslim coastal slum called Rio Hondo and were refusing to negotiate with security forces.
Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco said sporadic gunbattles had killed a navy special forces member, a policeman and four civilians, while 24 civilians, rebels and soldiers were wounded. The military said at least two guerrillas were killed.
The military and police said 20 residents were being held hostage by rebels in a village near Rio Hondo.
"Everything is being done to solve the crisis as soon as possible with minimal damage to lives and properties," Climaco said.
Zagala said the rebels planned to march into Zamboanga, a bustling port city of nearly 1 million people, and hoist their flag at city hall but government forces discovered the plan three days ago and took defensive positions.
"We cannot allow another armed force to march around our cities. That is unacceptable," he said.
TV footage showed troops and police forces in battle gear taking cover behind buildings as residents fled with bags of clothes.
The turbulence is the latest flare-up of Muslim unrest that has plagued the country's poverty-stricken Mindanao region on and off for decades. It also shatters years of relative calm in Zamboanga city, a predominantly Christian region 860 kilometers (540 miles) south of Manila.
The Moro group signed a 1996 peace accord with the government, but hundreds of its fighters held on to their arms, and have accused officials of reneging on a promise to develop an autonomous region for minority Muslims in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines.
The group later split into factions and faded in the background as its largest breakaway guerrilla bloc, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, gained strength and continued fighting.
Read more
About 200 Muslim rebels held nearly 300 people hostage Monday after clashing with government troops and rampaging through coastal communities in the southern Philippines, leaving at least eight people dead, officials said.
The fighting occurred after troops backed by tanks blocked the Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas — armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers — from marching into Zamboanga city, a major port city, to raise their flag at city hall, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
He said Philippine military had boxed the rebels into a Muslim coastal slum, Rio Hondo. The rebels are refusing to negotiate with security forces, he said.
The violence is the latest flare-up of Muslim unrest that has plagued the country's poverty-stricken Mindanao region on and off for decades. It shatters years of relative calm in Zamboanga city, a predominantly Christian region 540 miles south of Manila.
The Moro group signed a 1996 peace accord with the government, but hundreds of its fighters held on to their arms and have accused officials of reneging on a promise to develop an autonomous region for minority Muslims in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic country.
Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco said sporadic gun battles killed a navy special forces member, a policeman and four civilians, and that 24 civilians, rebels and soldiers were wounded. The military said at least two guerrillas were killed.
"Everything is being done to solve the crisis as soon as possible with minimal damage to lives and properties," Climaco said.
The military and police initially reported 20 residents were being held hostage by the rebels but Zagala said later Monday that up to 290 people were being held captive in three villages near Rio Hondo based on reports by government forces.
Alberto Sumalpong Jr. said he and his family were awakened by blasts of gunfire and then fled to safety from their village, but he later returned to check on their belongings. "Some villagers returned to check on their houses but ended up also being taken hostage," he told The Associated Press by telephone.
Zagala said the rebels planned to march into Zamboanga, a bustling port city of nearly a million people, and hoist their flag at city hall but government forces discovered the plan three days ago and took defensive positions.
"We cannot allow another armed force to march around our cities. That is unacceptable," he said.
TV footage showed troops and police in battle gear taking cover behind buildings as residents fled with bags of clothes. Troops secured a hospital, and most stores, businesses and schools in the city were shut.
Read More
8 killed as Muslim rebels clash with troops and take hostages in southern Philippines
About 300 Muslim rebels were in a hostage standoff Monday with government troops after a rampage through coastal communities in the southern Philippines left at least eight people dead, officials said.
The fighting happened after the troops backed by tanks blocked Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas — armed by assault rifles — from marching into Zamboanga city to raise their flag at city hall, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
He said the rebels were boxed into a Muslim coastal slum called Rio Hondo and were refusing to negotiate with security forces.
Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco said sporadic gunbattles had killed a navy special forces member, a policeman and four civilians, while 24 civilians, rebels and soldiers were wounded. The military said at least two guerrillas were killed.
The military and police said 20 residents were being held hostage by rebels in a village near Rio Hondo.
"Everything is being done to solve the crisis as soon as possible with minimal damage to lives and properties," Climaco said.
Zagala said the rebels planned to march into Zamboanga, a bustling port city of nearly 1 million people, and hoist their flag at city hall but government forces discovered the plan three days ago and took defensive positions.
"We cannot allow another armed force to march around our cities. That is unacceptable," he said.
TV footage showed troops and police forces in battle gear taking cover behind buildings as residents fled with bags of clothes.
The turbulence is the latest flare-up of Muslim unrest that has plagued the country's poverty-stricken Mindanao region on and off for decades. It also shatters years of relative calm in Zamboanga city, a predominantly Christian region 860 kilometers (540 miles) south of Manila.
The Moro group signed a 1996 peace accord with the government, but hundreds of its fighters held on to their arms, and have accused officials of reneging on a promise to develop an autonomous region for minority Muslims in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines.
The group later split into factions and faded in the background as its largest breakaway guerrilla bloc, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, gained strength and continued fighting.
Read more