Philippines communist rebel attack kills 11

DAVAO, Philippines, Mar 10 (AFP): Nine members of the security forces and two communist insurgents were killed in a string of guerrilla attacks targeting Philippine police and military on Monday, officials said.

At least 50 New People's Army (NPA) rebels overwhelmed a small group of policemen at the police station in Matanao on the southern island of Mindanao at dawn, said local military spokesman Captain William Rodriguez.

"They fell on the town riding trucks and a small bus, about 50 of them... thirty minutes later (other) rebels also attacked a (local military) detachment but they were not successful there," he told reporters.

Two policemen were killed and three others wounded in the raid on the police station itself, while the raiders, who were wearing military uniforms, also suffered two dead, Rodriguez said.