Heavy Fighting Is Being Reported Between Philippine Soldiers And Muslim Rebels In The South Of The Country

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Al Jazeera: Philippine army 'kills scores' in Maute rebel clashes

Scores of fighters and two soldiers killed during battle between Maute rebel group and army, military spokesman says.

Intense fighting between Philippine troops and a little-known group apparently inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has killed 54 fighters in the country's south, officials said.

Regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan said on Monday that the operations against the Maute rebel group began last Thursday in southern Lanao del Sur province's Butig town and were still continuing.

He said two soldiers were killed and nine others wounded in the clashes.

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More News On Heavy Fighting Being Reported Between Philippine Soldiers And Muslim Rebels In The South Of The Country

Philippine troops kill 54 Islamist militants in the south -- Reuters
Philippines: 54 Muslim militants killed in the south, officials say -- Asian Correspondent/AP
Two Philippine soldiers killed in clashes with militants -- Gulf News/AFP
Philippines Military: 54 Muslim Rebels Killed in South -- VOA
54 militants killed in Lanao del Sur -- Manilla Bulletin
Philippines: 56 killed in clashes in Muslim south -- Anadolu Agency

Philippines: Army Not Fighting 'All-Out War' In South, Says President

From AKI-Adnkronos:

Manila, 25 August (AKI) - The Philippines government is not conducting an "all-out war" in the southern province of Mindanao despite a military offensive against the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front, President Gloria Arroyo said on Monday.

Arroyo gave the assurance in a speech at a groundbreaking ceremony of the Global Gateway Logistics City in Pampanga in the central region of Luzon.

"I say to the Filipinos, to the world, to our Muslim brothers in the south, to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) through our Kuwaiti friends, there is no all out war," the President said.

According to the website of GMANews, Arroyo made her remarks as fresh fighting erupted in the south.

Fighting between Muslim separatists and troops intensified in the southern Philippines at the weekend undermining hopes for renewed peace talks.

More than 100 fighters have reportedly been killed in four days of clashes on Mindanao island, according to media reports.

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Update: Rebel Fighting in Philippines Intensifies -- New York Times

My Comment: Just in the past week we have had hundreds killed, many more wounded, and 300,000 refugees. If this is not warfare .... what is?