Muslim rebels say Philippine army breaks truce

MANILA, July 1 (Reuters) The largest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines today accused soldiers of violating a three-year truce by firing 20 howitzer rounds at guerrilla positions on the southern island of Mindanao yesterday.

Security and rebel forces have traded blame for starting the fighting on Wednesday around Shariff Aguak town, where seven people were killed last week by a bomb intended for the powerful governor of Maguindanao province, Andal Ampatuan.

Eid Kabalu, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the rebels filed a formal protest with the government's ceasefire panel on Friday after soldiers shelled rebel positions in Shariff Aguak without provocation.

''We have no quarrel with the military,'' he said by phone.

''They should not be taking sides in the conflict. We're not taking any actions, but our forces are prepared to defend their positions.'' Today, Kabalu said paramilitary forces fired mortar rounds on MILF areas, the third time in four days, but inflicted no damage and casualties.

Ramon Santos, a retired general who heads the government's ceasefire panel, said it had started investigating the MILF complaints because there was an apparent lack of coordination between troops on the ground.

''Some soldiers fired some shots, but we have to find out whether it was justified,'' Santos told reporters, adding the panel has not received a copy of the MILF's complaint.

Army officials said none of its soldiers was involved in the clashes. But the military moved reinforcements to army bases in the area, saying troops were sent to prevent fighting from spilling into other areas and threatening the ceasefire.

The paramilitary forces are civilians trained and armed by the military to help defend their communities, but analysts say they are used by local politicians as private armies.

The MILF has been negotiating with Manila since 1997 to end a nearly 40-year conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people and stunted development of the south, which is rich in oil, minerals, timber and agricultural goods.

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