Violence in Philippines leaves several dead, threatening peace deal
- 11 years ago
WARNING-STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
STORY: Residents fleeing, troops firing and an already fragile peace deal in jeopardy.
An audacious assault by a rogue Muslim rebel group on Zamboanga City in the Philippines leaves several dead and dozens wounded.
The city's mayor says the violence has forced about 3,000 residents to flee their homes.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ZAMBOANGA CITY MAYOR ISABELLE CLIMACO-SALAZAR SAYING:
"We are on top of the situation. We really know that our goal is to protect and secure Zamboanga City and prevent the lives of people, particularly the innocent civilians, from being affected."
Officials say hundreds of rebels from a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front separatist group are leading the attack.
The group currently runs an autonomous region on a southern island, but a rebel commander from this faction says they want complete independence.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MORO NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT NATIONAL SECUR
STORY: Residents fleeing, troops firing and an already fragile peace deal in jeopardy.
An audacious assault by a rogue Muslim rebel group on Zamboanga City in the Philippines leaves several dead and dozens wounded.
The city's mayor says the violence has forced about 3,000 residents to flee their homes.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ZAMBOANGA CITY MAYOR ISABELLE CLIMACO-SALAZAR SAYING:
"We are on top of the situation. We really know that our goal is to protect and secure Zamboanga City and prevent the lives of people, particularly the innocent civilians, from being affected."
Officials say hundreds of rebels from a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front separatist group are leading the attack.
The group currently runs an autonomous region on a southern island, but a rebel commander from this faction says they want complete independence.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MORO NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT NATIONAL SECUR