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Clashes in Maguindanao Between MILF and Filipino Army
MANILA, Sept 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Clashes between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continued to rage in the two provinces of Lanao and Maguindanao, further endangering ongoing peace negotiations, press reports said on Sunday.
The hostilities entered a fourth day on Sunday after the military penetrated what the MILF says is territory it controls.
The military, however, urged the MILF to retreat from its positions, adding that the armed forces will continue the offensive in Lanao del sur and Lanao del Norte.
The MILF said members of its 206th Brigade clashed with soldiers of the Army's 37th Infantry Battalion in Maguindanao.
MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said the fighting also spread to nearby Mamasapano town, also in Maguindanao, where MILF fighters under Commander Abdulwahid Halil killed the brother of the town mayor, Tato Ampatuan.
"We did not get his name, but he was leading some Cafgus [Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit] against our members when the encounter occurred," Kabalu said.
Kabalu said the encounters were endangering the peace process and added that the MILF would be filing more charges against the military for violating the ceasefire agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur on August 7th.
Military officials said they were on a security patrol when the MILF opened fire.
They believe the fighters were new MILF recruits and were on a test mission in the area, believed to be the new training ground for the MILF.
Local press reports says MILF members reportedly attacked military patrols in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Maguindanao with at least one soldier and an undetermined number of MILF members slain.
The military blamed the Lanao encounters on a band of fighters under Commander Bravo of the MILF's 303rd Brigade, who fired at the troops on Thursday.
The army claims the soldiers were on their way to rebuild civilian houses that were destroyed during the "all-out war" declared by ousted president Joseph Estrada last year.
As of Saturday, the fighting had spread to adjacent towns as more MILF members reinforced contingents there. The military also sent in more troops and launched air attacks. Army reports say troops fought back with howitzers, killing an undetermined number of MILF members.
The MILF, however, said that it has killed six soldiers since Thursday, accusing the military of invading its territory in Lanao.
Kabalu said the military started the violence by attacking MILF camps.
Government peace negotiators had previously minimized skirmishes between the military and the MILF, which is fighting to set up an Islamic state in the southern Philippines.
The MILF has previously said its next round of peace talks with the government would be held this month in Malaysia.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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