Philippine army kills 10 communist rebels in south

MANILA, Mar 2 (Reuters) Philippine soldiers killed at least 10 communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels during an attack on a suspected guerrilla hideout on the southern island of Mindanao, an army spokesman said today.

Major Samuel Sagun said two soldiers were killed and three wounded when troops raided a village outside Malaybalay City in Bukidnon province yesterday.

''We have reason to believe that our troops had stopped a plan by the communists to create trouble during an annual local farmers' festival to offer thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest,'' Sagun told reporters in Manila by telephone.

''Our troops had recovered assault rifles and explosives at the rebels' hideout. We can only speculate the place our troops had raided was a facility for making crude bombs, like command detonated landmines.'' Since 1969, the Philippines has been fighting the Maoist-led guerrilla insurgency in a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people. Talks, brokered by Norway, to end the rebellion stalled in August 2004.

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