Thousands flee fighting in southern Philippines
World News • August 2008 • Views: 366
MANILA (Reuters) - Fierce clashes between Muslim separatists and government troops have displaced nearly 130,000 people in the southern Philippines, officials said on Monday, but vowed to press on with a local election.
The separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front had called for elections in the six-province Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao to be cancelled because they want a new Muslim homeland with more political powers established as part of a comprehensive peace deal.