Philippine government security forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels clashed anew in the southern town of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao, the military said on Friday.

Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said that about 30 MILF rebels opened fire on a detachment of the Army's 64th Infantry Battalion on Thursday afternoon.

Ando said the soldiers fired back, triggering a 15-minute clash that forced the rebels to withdraw. No one was reported hurt in the clash, he said.

"Soldiers only defended their position. It was the rebels who harassed our troops there. This is a violation of the existing ceasefire and we are filing a protest," Ando said.

However, the MILF claimed they were in defensive position.

"We are abiding by the ceasefire but they keep on attacking us, " said Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman.

Kabalu said the attacks continue to threaten the already shaky peace negotiations.

Talks between the Philippine government and the MILF hit a snag recently over the issue of territory.

The government and the MILF began talks and reached a ceasefire agreement in 1997. But the ceasefire was consistently violated by both sides.

Source: Xinhua