4 rebels killed in clash with government troops in Philippines

Four leftist rebels were killed and two others were captured when they had a clash with Philippine government troops on weekend, the military said on Sunday. Meanwhile, a soldier from the 79th Infantry Battalion of the government troop was wounded in the skirmishes with 24 New People' s Army (NPA) in Tanjay City in central Philippine province of Negros Oriental on Saturday afternoon, said Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division. Tiongson said the fighting broke out around 4 p.m., which ended 35 minutes later when the insurgents withdrew. At around 4:45 p.m. on the same day, Tiongson said pursuing troops clashed with the fleeing rebels. The second firefight lasted for 20 minutes as the rebels retreated. The fighting led to the death of four rebels. The operation also resulted to the surrender of two other rebels, one of them was treated by soldiers because of a wound in his right foot. The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.