RP Troops Assault Mosque Where MILF Rebels Pray, Military Denies Accusations

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 13, 2008) –

Philippine troops attacked a mosque where rebels were praying in the restive region of Mindanao, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said, but the army denied the accusations Saturday.

The MILF said security forces launched the attack while rebels were praying Friday in the village of Daliao in Sarangani's Maasim town where the MILF maintains several encampments.

The MILF said one rebel was killed in the noontime assault and condemned the attack on the mosque. The assault triggered a fire fight that killed ten government soldiers, the MILF said. A military said at least 20 rebels died in the clash.

"Firing at mosque, a sacred religious symbol of the Muslims, is an attack to all the Muslims the world over. This is an act totally disrespectful of the cultural and religious symbols of the Muslims," the MILF said in a statement.

It was not the first time that government forces attacked mosques while battling rebels in Mindanao, the MILF said. It said security forces also attacked mosques in 2003 during an offensive against the MILF.

Army Lt. Col. Roland Bautista, spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, said two soldiers were wounded in the clash with about 100 rebels. He also denied troops attacked any mosque in the village.

"The rebels were advancing toward civilian areas and soldiers stopped them from getting near those areas. We deny MILF accusations that troops attacked the mosque," Bautista told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said troops also overran a rebel encampment in the village and destroyed several bunkers.

Manila suspended peace talks with the MILF after rebel forces mounted a series of deadly attacks last month in Mindanao that left dozens of civilians dead. The rebels launched the attacks after the aborted signing of the homeland deal which would have granted some four million Muslims their homeland in more than 700 villages in Mindanao.

President Gloria Arroyo eventually scrapped the deal and abolished the government team negotiating peace with the MILF.

Although the seven-year old peace talks were stalled, a fragile cease-fire still exists in the restive region, but sporadic clashes between rebels and troops are also threatening the fragile truce accord. (With a report from Romy Bwaga)