Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 31, 2003
Over 20 Killed in Clashes in Northern Philippines
At least 24 people were killed over the weekend in fierce clashes between government security forces and New People's Army rebels in the northern Philippines, the military said Sunday.
At least 24 people were killed over the weekend in fierce clashes between government security forces and New People's Army rebels in the northern Philippines, the military said Sunday.
Initial assessment showed that at least 20 NPA rebels, three policemen and one soldier were killed and three more soldiers injured in the day-long heavy fighting in Bulacan province on Saturday, regional Army commander Major General Alberto Braganza said.
Three soldiers were also injured in "the longest on-and-off firefight in recent times," Braganza was quoted by the Philippine News Agency as saying.
So far, 10 bodies of the rebels have been recovered. "The otherrebel casualties were reported to us by civilian informants and clearing operations are still on going," Braganza said.
Government forces have intensified counter-insurgency operations in anticipation of the 34th founding anniversary of the10,000-strong NPA on Saturday.
The NPA has been labeled as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union as well as the Philippine government.