Talks in peril as Philippine troops hunt Muslim rebels
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
ILIGAN, (Philippines), Aug 19 (AFP): Troops Tuesday stepped up a manhunt for Muslim separatist rebels after a murderous rampage in the southern Philippines left 38 people dead and threw peace negotiations into chaos.
Hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked towns in Lanao del Norte and Sarangani provinces Monday, looting businesses, burning houses and holding dozens of hostages.
The near-simultaneous raids began at dawn, triggering intense gunbattles in the mostly Christian towns of Kolambugan and Kauswagan that raged until noon.
Villagers were trickling back into their devastated communities Tuesday, only to find debris where their houses once stood.
Some civilians were seen arming themselves with machetes and guns to defend themselves against future attacks, AFP reporters said.
Five more bodies were retrieved from Kolambugan Tuesday, said town mayor Beltran Lumaque, while two more were recovered from the town of Kauswagan, police said.
The death toll now stands at 38, including three soldiers, while dozens of others were injured and nearly 10,000 displaced by the fighting.
President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman Jesus Dureza on Tuesday called for calm, but admitted peace talks with the MILF were now in peril.
"We're very sorry and we're very saddened by this," Dureza said in Manila. "I compare this (the talks) to a shattered glass. It would be very difficult to put the pieces together." He stressed however that "peace is the only option for us."
Military vice chief of staff Lieutenant General Cardoso Luna said troop reinforcements have been sent to the area to go after the rebels, who had escaped into nearby woodlands.
Hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked towns in Lanao del Norte and Sarangani provinces Monday, looting businesses, burning houses and holding dozens of hostages.
The near-simultaneous raids began at dawn, triggering intense gunbattles in the mostly Christian towns of Kolambugan and Kauswagan that raged until noon.
Villagers were trickling back into their devastated communities Tuesday, only to find debris where their houses once stood.
Some civilians were seen arming themselves with machetes and guns to defend themselves against future attacks, AFP reporters said.
Five more bodies were retrieved from Kolambugan Tuesday, said town mayor Beltran Lumaque, while two more were recovered from the town of Kauswagan, police said.
The death toll now stands at 38, including three soldiers, while dozens of others were injured and nearly 10,000 displaced by the fighting.
President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman Jesus Dureza on Tuesday called for calm, but admitted peace talks with the MILF were now in peril.
"We're very sorry and we're very saddened by this," Dureza said in Manila. "I compare this (the talks) to a shattered glass. It would be very difficult to put the pieces together." He stressed however that "peace is the only option for us."
Military vice chief of staff Lieutenant General Cardoso Luna said troop reinforcements have been sent to the area to go after the rebels, who had escaped into nearby woodlands.