The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked a military patrol in the town of Tipo-tipo on the island of Basilan, said regional military spokesman Maj. Salih Indanan. Troops responded by shelling MILF positions, he said.

The Muslim fighters could be seen dragging away three comrades killed in the shelling, he said, adding that sporadic clashes were continuing. He said some of the guerrillas dragging away the dead men were minors so troops refrained opening fire. The MILF has previously admitted recruiting boys.

One government solider was seriously wounded in the clash. The government also confiscated a grenade launcher from the mujahedin that was left near their blood-stained escape route, Indanan said.

Later the same day in the town of Sirawai in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, MILF forces attacked another military patrol.

The body of one Muslim fighter was recovered after that exchange, Indanan said.

The attacks came after Ghazali Jaafar, the mujahedin's vice-chairman for political affairs, said his group was postponing the latest round of peace talks, originally scheduled to begin on December 13, because of the holy month of Ramadan. He did not say when the talks would resume, or why the cancellation had not been decided earlier.

Meanwhile Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado criticized the MILF for postponing the talks, saying they were engaged in "delaying tactics." He said he would summon the government's peace negotiator for an assessment of the talks, which have been frequently marred by fighting.

The Muslims cancelled the talks after Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid called off a scheduled meeting with MILF chief Hashim Salamat amid security concerns and political opposition in Manila.

In the capital on Saturday, Philippine President Joseph Estrada raised doubts about the MILF's sincerity, noting it was when an initial round of peace talks began last October 25 that the estimated 15,000-strong group began launching attacks. "We have given them too much already," Estrada said, ordering the military to "not give an inch. Fight back."

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