4 hurt in fresh Zamboanga clashes

Government troopers maneuver their Armored Personnel Carrier to reinforce their comrades after an army officer was killed in the ongoing operation against Muslim rebels on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, the 11th day of the standoff in Zamboanga city in southern Philippines. AP

MANILA, Philippines – At least four soldiers and civilians were wounded in fresh clashes early Friday as gunbattle between government troops and Moro National Liberation Front fighters reached its 12th day.

Army’s First Infantry Division spokesman Captain Jefferson Somera said two soldiers were injured from a firefight in Sta. Barbara while a radio report said two civilians were hit by stray bullets along Lustre St. in Sta. Catalina village.

Civilians were the hardest-hit of the 12-day fighting, with nearly 120,000 of them affected –

some 113,000 of them were housed in shelters. At least 60 were injured and seven were killed.

A percentage of the affected civilians will have no homes to return to as at least 10 fire incidents in the past 12 days burned hundreds of homes.

Meanwhile, acting public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said that three rebels were killed in an encounter Thursday night in Sta. Barbara.