Government troopers patrol to secure the city streets as fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels continues Saturday, Sept 21, 2013 in Zamboanga city in southern Philippines. Muslim rebels opposed to peace talks with the Philippine government released nine teachers and four village officials on Tuesday a day after taking hostages in an attack on a southern town that killed eight combatants, officials said.
Muslim rebels opposed to peace talks with the Philippine government released nine teachers and four village officials on Tuesday a day after taking hostages in an attack on a southern town that killed eight combatants, officials said.
This week's violence came as government troops battled the last few dozen gunmen from another Muslim rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front, which on Sept 9 took more than 100 civilians hostage and occupied areas of Zamboanga city.
About 40 Moro rebels holding around 20 hostages are still holed up in Zamboanga, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
It was not known if the two attacks were related but the leaders of the two groups have met at least once and both oppose the peace talks involving the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
