Philippine rebels turn to bombs to divert assaults
Associated Press, Manila | World | Sun, August 12 2012, 2:01 PM
Philippine military officials say suspected militants
from a breakaway Muslim rebel group have set off bombs in two provinces
in the southern Philippines in their latest assault but no one has been
injured. The gunmen went on a rampage last week and sparked clashes
that killed at least 28 people.
The officials
say hundreds of army troops have forced armed fighters of the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Movement out of two strongholds in southern Maguindanao
province and were pursuing them Sunday mostly in hinterland areas.
They say at least seven homemade bombs have exploded
in recent days along roads and in communities in Maguindanao and nearby
North Cotabato province in an apparent attempt by the breakaway rebels
to disrupt army assaults. The fighting has displaced 39,000 villagers.
