Philippines

Military says it has overrun MILF camps

Article published on the 2009-04-28 Latest update 2009-04-28 11:10 TU

(Photo: Sébastien Farcis)

The Filippino army said on Tuesday that it had overrun 13 "satellite camps" of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The camps are in the province of Maguindanao on the southern Mindanao island.

The army says it seized weapons during an operation which lasted a week and that the militants have been forced out of the camps but may regroup again elsewhere.

The army's operation comes after peace talks with the MILF were suspended last August. Relief officials say that 100,000 people are currently in evacuation camps after having been displaced by fighting.

The government is demanding that MILF hand over two commanders who are accused of being behind raids on towns and provinces on Mindanao.

The attacks were in response to a court order that blocked a deal to give the group control over large parts of Mindanao and led to the collapse of the peace negotiations.