16,000 people flee from south Philippine clashes
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More than 16,000 people have fled from four southern Philippine towns where government troops have been battling Muslim guerrillas and outlaws.
The Office of Civil Defense said Tuesday that about 10,800 villagers have been displaced in three towns in Zamboanga Sibugay province. Nearly 6,000 villagers have also fled from Al-Barka town in the island province of Basilan, where 19 army soldiers were killed in a clash with Muslim guerrillas last week. (AP)
