MANILA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Philippine troops captured a rebel base after four hours of fighting on a restive southern island, killing 11 Maoist-led guerrillas and wounding dozens, an army spokesman said Monday. Five soldiers were also killed and another was wounded in clashes on Sunday in the mountains of Bukidnon on the southern island of Mindanao, Major Michelle Anayron said, adding several assault rifles and rounds of ammunition were also seized. "Our troops fought hard to gain control of the communist rebel base," Anayron told reporters, adding that a soldier was killed in the attack on the Maoist-led New People's Army (NPA) base near Quezon town. "After four hours of fighting, our troops found a hastily abandoned camp. The fleeing NPA rebels left behind five dead comrades and several weapons." Pursuing troops caught up with Maoist rebels in a nearby village where six NPA guerrillas were killed. Four soldiers also died and another was wounded. The 5,000-member Maoist-led NPA, active in 69 of 80 provinces across the archipelago, has been fighting a protracted guerilla war to overthrow the government in Manila for 40 years. The conflict has killed 40,000 people. (Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by Valerie Lee)
A resident inspects his damaged house after a powerful earthquake struck the Talaud Islands, north of Indonesia's Sulawesi island, February 12, 2009. At least 49 people were injured and hundreds of ...
