COTABATO CITY, Philippines, March 28 (UPI) -- Clashes between government troops and Islamic militants have left at least 31 people dead in the Philippines, officials said.
The Philippine Star reported Saturday the dead included 23 Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, seven soldiers and one militiaman. The fighting occurred in two battles while President Gloria Arroyo visited central Mindanao Friday, the newspaper said.
Col. Marlou Salazar told the Star the rebels fired mortar shells on army positions and attacked a military patrol near Mamasapano, several miles from where Arroyo was to make a stop on her tour.
Other fighting occurred at Barangay Sta.
"The president appeared unmindful of her security; anyway the fighting was far away," a provincial official said.
Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said government troops started the fighting by attacking a community where some rebel families lived.
