Defense chief says rebel standoff is over

A soldier takes his position as residents abandon their homes during the second day of the standoff between the Muslim rebels and Philippine government forces Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013 at the southern port city of Zamboanga, in southern Philippines. About 200 Muslim rebels, enraged by a broken peace deal with the Philippine government, held scores of hostages as human shields . More battle-ready troops and police were flown to the southern port city of Zamboanga in a bid to end the crisis. The troops have surrounded the Moro National Liberation Front guerrillas with their hostages in four coastal villages since the crisis erupted Monday. AP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine defense chief says a deadly three-week standoff between government troops and Muslim rebels who held nearly 200 people hostage has ended with all of the captives safe.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told The Associated Press by telephone Saturday that only a handful of Moro National Liberation Front rebels remained hiding and were being hunted by troops in the coastal outskirts of Zamboanga city in the south of the country. Authorities were trying to determine if rebel commander Habier Malik, who led the Sept. 9 siege, was among those killed, according to Gazmin.

Gazmin says 195 hostages were rescued, escaped or were freed.

The military says more than 200 people were killed in the clashes, including 166 rebels.