- MANILA: More than 16,000 people have fled from four southern Philippine towns where government troops have been battling Muslim guerrillas and outlaws.
The Office of Civil Defense said Tuesday that about 10,800 villagers have been displaced in three towns in Zamboanga Sibugay province. The towns include coastal Payao, where air force bomber planes, army troops and naval gunboats have been battling more than 120 suspected Muslim rebels and outlaws accused of kidnappings for ransom and other crimes.
Officials say nearly 6,000 villagers have also fled from Al-Barka town in the island province of Basilan, where 19 army soldiers were killed in a clash with Muslim guerrillas last week.
The fresh clashes are complicating government peace talks with Muslim rebels.
