Philippine troops kill nine rebels

Philippine soldiers pursued and killed nine communist rebels yesterday after they raided police stations on a southern island, an army spokesman said.

Major Armand Rico, an army spokesman on the southern island of Mindanao, said the New People's Army (NPA) rebels were part of a 30-member group that raided two police outposts on Siargao island and killed two police officers late on Saturday. Four officers were also injured.

He said nine rebels were killed and five taken into custody after gun battles with the fleeing guerillas in two places.

"Our troops are still pursuing the rebels on the island," Major Rico told reporters, adding helicopter gunships had been pressed into service.

The Philippines has been battling communist rebels in 69 of 81 provinces across the country in a protracted conflict that has killed 40,000 people and stunted economic growth in one of Southeast Asia's poorest states.

In another part of the southern Mindanao region, police detonated a crude bomb yesterday that had been planted near a petrol station in a province where Muslim guerillas have been attacking army positions.