Thaindian News

Manila, Sep 25 (DPA) Ten communist rebels were killed Friday in two clashes with government troops in the eastern Philippines, a regional army spokesman said.
Nine guerillas died in fighting in a remote village in Pilar town in Sorsogon province, 345 km southeast of Manila, Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said.

Burgos said troops recovered eight assault rifles from the slain rebels.

Another firefight erupted between soldiers and a band of communist rebels in a remote village in Manito town in neighbouring Albay province, resulting in the killing of one rebel, he said.

Burgos said government troops did not suffer any casualties in either clash.

He said more troops have been dispatched to Sorsogon and Albay to intensify operations against the guerrillas operating there.

Communist rebels have been fighting the government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.