Mortar attack on Philippine marine base kills 3

Manila, Apr 14: Muslim rebels fired mortar bombs on a Philippine marine base in the southern island of Jolo killing two soldiers and a child, military officials said today.

Ten troops were wounded in the attack in Panamao town by the Moro National Liberation Front late yesterday, which triggered a gunbattle with security forces that continued through the night, Major Eugene Batara said.

The attack was led by MNLF commander Habier Malik who embarrassed the military in February when he held a top general, a senior government official and their aides hostage for two nights.

The hostages were released unharmed after the government handed over money and sacks of food.

Fighting between the troops and hundreds of rebels was ongoing and one military official, who declined to be named, said the MNLF's base was coming under heavy fire.

''The command has already ordered the bombardment of the camp under commander Malik,'' Batara said.

The child was killed when one of the mortars fired by the rebels landed in a town hall.

The Philippines, a largely Catholic country, has been trying to quell Muslim separatism for decades and signed a peace deal with the MNLF in 1996 that was meant to end a conflict that has killed over 120,000 people.

But the agreement was not properly implemented and there is sporadic fighting between government forces and disgruntled members of the MNLF.

Manila also suspects some MNLF forces of aiding the Abu Sayyaf, the country's fiercest Muslim rebel group, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has sworn to destroy after it bombed a ferry near Manila in 2004 killing over 100 people.

Since August, the Philippines has poured over 8,000 troops onto Jolo to flush out the Abu Sayyaf and members of regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah, who use the island to train and plot.

The ground offensive is aided by US special forces, who are constitutionally barred from fighting in the Philippines but who advise the troops.

Reuters