14 killed in clashes between rebel factions in southern Philippines

14 killed in clashes between rebel factions in southern Philippines

2011-08-12 02:03:19 GMT+7 (ICT)

MAGUINDANAO, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- At least 14 people have been in heavy fighting recently between two rebel factions in the southern Philippines, ABS-CBN news reported on Thursday.

Troops of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (<deleted>) and the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIIF) clashed in the town of Datu Piang in Maguindanao province, forcing around 482 families from four villages to flee their homes. Ten of the casualties were BIIF rebels while the other four victims were <deleted> members.

Von al Haq, spokesperson of the <deleted>'s military arm, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), said on the rebel group's website that a group led by BIIF Commander Ustadz Abunawas Ibad attacked a BIAF-<deleted> command on Tuesday. He added that the conflict was caused by a land dispute between Abunawas and Commander Akad Kasim of the 106th Base Command of the BIAF–<deleted>.

"This fighting was purely because of land conflict and has nothing to do with the peace process," Al Haq stressed. "We are confident that the peace process will not be affected."

The government, however, expressed alarm over the clash. Brigadier General Ariel Bernardo, head of a military panel engaged in talks with the <deleted>, said this might affect the peace talks if the fighting is not resolved immediately, according to ABS-CBN.

Last week, President Benigno Aquino III and <deleted> chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim held a meeting in Tokyo, Japan in an attempt to speed up the peace talks. The <deleted> entered into peace negotiations with the government in 1997, but despite a ceasefire agreement, the southern Philippines continues to see violence.

The <deleted> has been fighting against the Government of the Philippines since 1977 for the establishment of an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.

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