Eleven leftist rebels of the New People's Army (NPA), four government soldiers and two civilians were killed in a fierce fire-fight in southern Philippines Tuesday afternoon, the military and police authorities said.

Maj. Michele Anayron, spokesman of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said the undetermined number of rebels from the Front Committee 89 swooped down at the Zamboangita patrol base in Bukinon province Tuesday afternoon, engaging in a 90-minute gun battle with the government soldiers.

He said the bodies of the eight slain rebels were recovered by the troops after the fighting, along with eight backpacks and personal belongings, at the encounter site. The three other enemy bodies were recovered inside their truck which was left abandoned in a nearby district.

"They (rebels) attempted to overrun our Zamboanga patrol base but they were repulsed. Our troops fought back," said Anayron.

The skirmishes occurred two days after the NPA celebrated its 40th founding anniversary.

The around 5,000-member NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a guerrilla war against the administration since its founding in 1969 by leftist idealists.

Source: Xinhua