ANILA, Mar 28 (Saba) - The Philippine government troops foiled an attacked of around 100 rebels of the New People's Army (NPA) in the southern Philippines, official sources said Sunday.

The sources said in a statement the NPA rebels launched the dawn
attack on a military patrol base in Davao City, Davao Province. In
a four-hour firefight, the rebels suffered heavy casualties and
withdrew to different direction, it said.

The sources also said it had dispatched additional troops to the
area to conduct pursuit operation to the fleeing rebels with support
of two attack helicopters.

The currently 9,000-strong NPA, listed by the Philippine and US
governments as terrorist group after the September 11, 2001 terror
attacks on the United States, has been waging insurgency in remote
are as in the Philippines since 1969. EM


SABA