Six die in Philippine army-communist rebel clashes

Manila: Officials say that four soldiers and two communist rebels were killed in two clashes in the Philippines that also wounded 10 people. Army Captain Gene Orense said on Monday that troops securing soldiers in a civic project chanced upon New People’s Army rebels in central Samar province’s Gandara township, triggering a firefight in which four soldiers died and two others were wounded. He said the rebels withdrew with an unknown number of casualties. [caption id=“attachment_498248” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image for representative purpose. AP[/caption] In southern Compostela Valley, two communist guerrillas were killed when troops repulsed about 60 rebels who attacked them. Army Lt Col Jerry Borja, the battalion commander, said seven soldiers and a civilian were wounded. The 43-year-old communist insurgency is one of Asia’s longest-running. Talks brokered by Norway to end the conflict have stalled. AP