At Least 12 Die in Philippines Ambush
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 11:54 a.m. ET
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Suspected Muslim rebels ambushed a vehicle owned by a Canadian mining company in the southern Philippines on Thursday, killing 12 people and injuring 10 others, the military said.
The attack followed a Christmas Eve bombing that killed 17 people, including a town mayor. Both were blamed on Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, who denied involvement.
Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, spokesman of the military's Southern Command, said rebels attacked a vehicle belonging to Toronto Venture Inc. Pacific, a Calgary-based mining company, on Thursday afternoon. All the victims were Filipino, he said.
He did not say why the military suspected the MILF, except that the remote village of Baliguian in Zamboanga del Norte province on Mindanao island, where the attack took place, is a known stronghold of Muslim rebels. Police accused the rebels of extorting money from the mining firm.
Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya ordered troops to pursue the attackers, who he said fled to nearby hills. Security has been tightened in the province.
Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu denied involvement saying ``we don't kill innocent people, besides, the MILF is currently negotiating peace with the government.''
Kabalu said MILF forces pulled out of Zamboanga del Norte in June after troops killed a key leader of the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group, which also operates in the province.
The Christmas Eve bombing occurred in Datu Piang town in southern Maguindanao province, about 100 miles to the southeast of Thursday's attack. Four suspects have been detained for questioning.
Some military and government officials have accused the MILF of supporting the terrorist activities of the smaller but more violent Abu Sayyaf. MILF leaders have denied any links.
The Muslim insurgency began three decades ago. Peace talks between the MILF and the government were suspended in October but are expected to resume next month in Malaysia.
Earlier this year, the United States sent more than 1,000 soldiers for a joint U.S.-Philippine anti-terrorism training exercise in the southern Philippines. It has been credited with helping Filipino troops break up the Abu Sayyaf and track down key leaders. |
