Philippine military officials say they have called off assaults that killed dozens of breakaway Muslim rebels and dislodged 100 others from two southern strongholds ahead of the resumption this week of peace talks between the government and a main insurgent group. Philippine army officials say village officials and witnesses say between 36 to 80 armed fighters of the rebel faction Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Movement were killed in the clashes over the weekend in villages bordering the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato. Army Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz said Monday that an army officer and five soldiers were killed in the firefights, according to a report of the Associated Press. The hardline rebels broke off two years ago from the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which resumes peace talks with the government Monday in Malaysia.
