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Violence in the Philippines Escalates

DW StaffJuly 11, 2007

In the Philippines, at least 14 marines died in the heaviest fighting in months. Ten were reportedly beheaded. According to the authorities, the marines were ambushed while searching for an Italian priest kidnapped last month. Whereas the rebels say the army breached a cease-fire agreement.

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Despite a cease-fire, government troops and rebels continue to fight in the restive southern regions
Despite a cease-fire, government troops and rebels continue to fight in the restive southern regionsImage: AP

The Moro Islamic liberation Front, or MILF, and the Al-Qaeeda-linked Abu Sayaf group are suspected of having jointly attacked the marines. A military spokesman said that fourteen marines had been killed during an eight-hour gun battle.

The MILF admitted being involved in the clashes but denied the beheadings -- Abu Sayyaf did not issue a statement.

News agencies reported that four MILF fighters had also been killed in the fighting and four more had been injured.

Brigadier General Eduardo Guerra, the head of the Joint GRP-MILF Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities said that the military was on its way to its base camp when the attack took place: "Our forces on the ground received fire I think from the right or the left side. Therefore, there was no firing from the government side."

Breach of cease-fire

But the chief MILF negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said that the marines had attacked an MILF stronghold area and the MILF had acted in self-defence.

He accused the government troops of violating a 2003 cease-fire agreement by entering an MILF area without permission.

However, he strictly denied responsibility for the beheadings of the marines or the kidnapping of the Italian priest, which the government had earlier accused renegade members of the MILF or Abu Sayyaf of being involved in.

The government and MILF are currently engaged in peace talks but success now seems farther away than ever.