After Ten Days of Intense Fighting Philippine Military Forces Gaining Ground Against Muslim Rebels

Philippine Troops Clearing City Attacked by Rebels -- Voice of America

Philippine troops conducted house-to-house raids Wednesday in what they hope is a final push against rebels who took over parts of a key southern city.

About 200 fighters linked to the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF, seized parts of Zamboanga City 10 days ago, taking scores of civilians hostage.

The fighting has been some of the worst in years for the southern island of Mindanao, which is home to a decades-old insurgency that has killed around 120,000 people.

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More News On Philippine Military Forces Gaining Ground Against Muslim Rebels

Philippines government claims victory against rebels -- Gulf News
Life in southern Philippine city slowly returns to normal as troops gain ground, corner rebels -- Washington Post/AP
Philippine military forces retake 80 percent of areas -- UPI
Philippines Set to Reopen Zamboanga Airport as Fighting Recedes -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Philippine military warns Muslim rebels to surrender -- AFP
Philippines: 100-plus dead in quixotic anti-American martyr mission -- Global Post
Tension in S. Philippines eases as troops corner rebels -- Xinhuanet
Normal Life Returning in Philippine City Attacked by Rebels -- Wall Street Journal
Police chief abducted by Muslim rebels in Philippines is freed -- CNN

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Battles Continue Between The Philippine Military And Muslim Rebels

Scores Of Hostages Freed In Philippines; Muslim Rebels Capture Police Chief -- CNN

(CNN) -- As Philippine security forces rescued scores of hostages held by Muslim rebels in a southern city, the rebels struck back by taking the local police chief captive Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo was negotiating with the rebels for the release of more civilians Tuesday morning "when he was himself abducted at gunpoint and held hostage by the rebel group," the Philippine National Police said.

His capture took place in a coastal area of mangroves near Zamboanga City, a major trading hub that has been paralyzed for the past nine days by the chaotic hostage crisis. "Pursuit operations" are under way to rescue him, police said.

The setback came on the same day that Philippine authorities announced significant progress against the rebels. Military officials said more than 120 hostages had been freed in the past 24 hours.

It was unclear how many people remained captive.

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More News On The Continuing Battles Between The Philippine Military And Muslim Rebels

Philippine city police chief walks free, convinces some rebels to surrender, officials say -- Washington Post/AP
Philippine Rebels Free Police Chief in Zamboanga -- Voice of America
Troops free civilians in Philippine rebel stand-off -- BBC
Philippine forces free dozens of hostages in besieged city -- Al Jazeera
Philippine army says Muslim rebels fleeing southern city -- Reuters
Philippine Army Gains Ground on Rebels in Zamboanga -- Voice of America
Death Toll Jumps in Philippine Standoff as 64 Hostages Rescued -- Voice of America
Philippines Launches Air Strikes on Rebels in Restive South -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Filipino troops retake 70% of rebel-seized coastal areas -- Washington Post

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Muslim Rebels And Troops Resume Fight In Southern Philippines

Members of the Philippine Marines hold their weapons aboard a truck as they block a road during fighting between government soldiers and Muslim rebels of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga city in the southern Philippines September 15, 2013.

Philippine Forces Step Up Offensive Against Muslim Rebels -- Voice of America

MANILA — In the southern Philippines, at least 55 people have died and more than 65,000 people have fled their homes while scores of hostages remain in the hands of Muslim rebels. Clashes between government forces and members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have intensified as they entered the seventh day.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines say troops are stepping up their fight in the major port city of Zamboanga against about 200 members of the MNLF.

Armed Forces spokesman, Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan, says the military along with police forces are now carrying out a “calibrated” offensive. But he did not give details of what the measured tactic entails.

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More News On Muslim Rebels And Troops Resuming The Fight In Southern Philippines

Philippine army 'surrounds rebels' in Zamboanga -- BBC
Philippine troops clear rebels, cut off escape routes -- Global Post/AFP
Manila says nearly 100 Philippine rebels killed or captured as troops press to end standoff -- FOX News/AP
Troops try to end standoff with rebels that has paralysed Philippines city of Zamboanga -- The Australian/AFP
Philippine troops surround rebel-held areas -- Al Jazeera
Philippine military gains ground in Zamboanga operations against MNLF rebels -- Global Times
Security forces press offensive against MNLF separatists in Philippines -- Deutsche Welle
Philippines Fighting Continues, as Cease-fire Fails -- Voice of America
Rebels and troops resume fight in southern Philippines -- BBC
Guns, clans, rogue Muslim rebels undermine south Philippine peace -- Reuters
The Embattled Filipino South -- Time

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Philippine Soldiers Battle For A Second Day Against Armed Separatist Rebels In The Southern City Of Zamboanga

Standoff With Rebels Continues in Philippines -- New York Times

MANILA — Hundreds of heavily armed separatist rebels, left out of a landmark peace deal, held villagers in the southern Philippines for a second day on Tuesday in a standoff with elite government troops that has left at least eight people dead and dozens wounded.

The Philippine military flew additional soldiers into embattled Zamboanga City to reinforce troops surrounding about 300 rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front who were holding four neighborhoods, officials said. Witnesses told local radio stations that they heard explosions and could see fires burning in the occupied areas.

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More News On Philippine Soldiers Battling For A Second Day Against Armed Separatist Rebels In The Southern City Of Zamboanga

More clashes in southern Philippines' Zamboanga city -- BBC
Some Hostages Released, but Philippines Insurgent Standoff Continues -- Time
Philippine rebels hold scores of hostages as human shields in standoff with troops -- Washington Post/AP
168 Held Hostage in So. Philippines Standoff -- Voice of America
Philippine rebels use 'human shields' in stand-off with troops -- The National/AFP
Muslim rebels release five hostages as tense Mindanao stand-off continues -- CNN
Philippines beefs up troops amid standoff with Muslim rebels -- Herald Net/AP/Bloomberg
Houses on fire as fighting erupts in southern Philippines -- Reuters
Attack in Zamboanga City could derail peace process in South Philippines -- Xinhuanet

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Philippine Muslim Rebels Launch A Raid On The Southern Port City Of Zamboanga

Muslim Rebels Hold 20 Hostages In Zamboanga City, Philippines -- CNN

(CNN) -- As many as 400 armed Muslim rebels are holding at least 20 people hostage in a southern Philippine city after coming ashore by boat, authorities said Monday.

Philippine police and armed forces have blockaded the areas of Zamboanga City, a mainly Christian city on the southern coast of Mindanao, where the rebels are holed up, Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar told CNN. She said the rebels had planned to march on the city hall.

City officials hope to talk to the rebels, who are believed to be from the Moro National Liberation Front, to try to negotiate the hostages' release, she said.

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More News On The Violence In The Southern Philippine City Of Zamboanga

Muslim rebels locked in standoff with Philippine army -- Global Post/AFP
Fighting in Southern Philippines Kills 8 -- New York Times
Philippine Muslim Rebels Clash With Military, Police in Zamboanga City -- Wall Street Journal
Filipino Rebels Storm Villages, Take Hostages -- AP
8 killed as Muslim rebels clash with troops and take hostages in southern Philippines -- FOX News/AP
Rebels take hundreds hostage in Philippines -- AL Jazeera
Filipino Rebels Clash With Government, Take Hostages -- Time
AFP: No failure of intelligence -- Philstar

WNU Editor: News reports are widely contradictory on what is happening in this battle. We will update when more information becomes available.

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