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Rebels kill 20 Philippine troops Rebels kill 20 Philippine troops
(about 1 hour later)
At least 20 Philippine soldiers have been killed by suspected Islamic rebels on the southern island of Jolo.At least 20 Philippine soldiers have been killed by suspected Islamic rebels on the southern island of Jolo.
Ten of the victims died when gunmen ambushed a military convoy near the town of Maimbung.Ten of the victims died when gunmen ambushed a military convoy near the town of Maimbung.
Troops were sent to engage the rebels, and during the battle which followed, 10 more soldiers died. Troops were sent to engage the rebels and during the battle which followed 10 more soldiers died.
Military spokesmen have blamed the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Abu Sayyaf - an Islamic militant group with alleged ties to al-Qaeda. The military blamed Abu Sayyaf - an Islamic militant group allegedly tied to al-Qaeda - and rogue elements in the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for various kidnappings and bombings, including an attack on a ferry in 2004 that killed more than 100 people. The MNLF, which signed a peace deal with the government in 1996, said it was behind Thursday's ambush.
The MNLF signed a peace treaty with Manila in 1996, but some of its members have refused to disarm. It said the attack was retaliation for an army offensive a day earlier.
Hatimil Hassan, deputy chairman of the MNLF, said on local TV: "(The ambush) was not Abu Sayyaf. It was our troops. It was the military's fault. They started it all."
The government wants peace with the MNLF, although some of its members have refused to disarm.
But Manila has sworn to destroy Abu Sayyaf, which is blamed for the Philippines' worst terror attack - a ferry bombing in 2004 that killed more than 100 people.
Thousands of Philippine troops are based in Jolo, some 950km (600 miles) south of the Philippine capital, Manila.Thousands of Philippine troops are based in Jolo, some 950km (600 miles) south of the Philippine capital, Manila.
They have been fighting Islamic militants holed up in the island's mountainous terrain for several months.They have been fighting Islamic militants holed up in the island's mountainous terrain for several months.