ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines, Jan. 24 -- Muslim rebels have ambushed an army patrol in the southern Philippines, defying a cease- fire agreement reached earlier this week. Initial reports said two soldiers were injured in the attack Friday, which occurred near Buldon town in Maguindanao province, 575 miles (920 km) south of Manila.
The military said helicopter gunships retaliated to the attack by strafing nearby mountains where members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were believed holed up. At least 33 soldiers and rebels have been killed in clashes in Buldon since fighting erupted between MILF guerrillas and government forces last week. MILF and government peace negotiators agreed to an interim cease-fire Wednesday. The two panels are scheduled to meet Jan. 26 to discuss the terms of the accord. The fighting has raised concerns that peace talks with the MILF will stall, but negotiators insist discussions will continue. The MILF is a faction of the main Muslim rebel group Moro National Liberation Front, which forged a landmark peace accord with Manila last September, ending nearly 25 years of violent struggle for a separate Islamic state. ---NEWLN:Copyright 1997 by United Press International.NEWLN:All rights reserved.NEWLN:---
