Filipino rebels kill 16

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 15

Filipino rebels kill 16

(S .Z-P.A .-Reuter— Copyright>

MANILA. February 21. Moslem rebels killed 16 civilians when they ambushed a bus in the southern Philippines recently, military sources in Manila said today.

I The sources said that the; ambush took place last Mon-j day near Alameda town ini north Cotabato province, some 550 miles south-east of; Manila. The bus, which belonged: to a logging company caught | fire in the incident and nine] of the 16 dead had bums on; them. There were no reports on whether any people managed to escape from the ambush. President Ferdinand Marcos said yesterday that he had formally asked for; ! Indonesia’s help in negotiat-1 ;ing a peaceful settlement to; | the Moslem insurgency, and ithat the Government was * seeking a fresh site for talks .with the rebels. I Fighting flared up anew in 'the southern Philippines 'after the collapse of peace talks in the Saudi Arabian j city of Jeddah last month

between representatives ot the Philippines Government I and the Moro liberation 1 front, the biggest rebel group. Mr Marcos also said yesterday that negotiations; with the front would con-i tinue, “supposedly in Jeddah, although we are asking! for a new site, in April, under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the Islamic Conference.” Informed sources said that the Philippines want them to be held in a south-east Asian capital. The President has accused unnamed foreign parties of aiding the rebels and “calling the shots” in the insurgency. The rebels hope to establish an autonomous Moslem State in the predominantly Moslem south of this otherwise overwhelmingly Christian country