Gov't militia killed by leftist rebels in S Philippines

Leftist rebels in the southern Philippines killed a government militia as they attacked a military outpost on Thursday, the military said Friday.

Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman for Army's Eastern Mindanao Command, said undetermined number of New Peoples Army launched attack by firing their high powered weapons on the post of 23rd Battalion in the village of Lianga in Butuan City, the regional center of the Caraga Region in southern Philippines.

Troops managed to defend their position but a militia was killed in an hour-long gun fighting with NPA guerrillas.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades.

The military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.

Source: Xinhua