---------- From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Phillipines: 51 Killed, 50 Qounded In MNLF Clashes - Ananova Ananova : 51 killed and 50 wounded in Philippines clashes with Muslim rebels ============================================= At least 51 people have been killed and more than 50 others injured in unrest in the Philippines. Followers of a Muslim rebel leader fired mortar rounds into an army camp. They were disgruntled over a peace agreement he signed with the Philippine government five years ago. The shelling was at the army's 104th Infantry Brigade headquarters near the airport in Jolo but subsided by mid-afternoon, according to Lt Gen Roy Cimatu, chief of the military's Southern Command. Lt Gen Cimatu said four soldiers were killed and 27 others, including an army colonel, were wounded. Members of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front suffered 48 dead and 13 wounded after a military counterattack, including air strikes on guerrilla positions and their stronghold in nearby Parang town, he said. Suod Tan, mayor of Jolo, about 940 kilometres (587 miles) south of Manila, said more than 10 civilians also were injured in the cross fire and hundreds of people fled their homes near areas occupied by MNLF fighters trying to close in on the army camp. Residents fleeing the scene said they saw MNLF guerrillas occupying a school about 50 meters (yards) from the camp perimeter and firing mortars and M-79 grenade launchers. Lt Gen Cimatu denied rumours of mass defection by former MNLF guerrillas who have been integrated into the military, saying only one officer facing charges of misconduct rejoined his former comrades. He added about 200 guerrillas involved in the attack belong to a faction of the MNLF headed by Nur Misuari, governor of a regional Muslim autonomous government who has opposed a scheduled election next Monday. The MNLF has been factionalised since early this year after several senior leaders ousted Misuari as MNLF chairman. Misuari claims the election violates the peace agreement he signed with Manila in 1996. Story filed: 09:55 Monday 19th November 2001 _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
