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Philippines Launches Offensive Against Splinter Muslim Rebel Group


The Philippine military has launched a major offensive against a renegade Muslim faction two days after the country's main Islamic rebel group agreed to a peace plan to end a decades-long insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of people.

The military said that troops, backed by artillery, attacked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters guerrillas on Monday in a remote village on the southern island of Mindanao, sending hundreds of civilians fleeing.

The rebels broke away from the main Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2008.

The MILF is on the brink of signing a final peace deal, after Malaysian-brokered talks with the government ended successfully on Saturday.
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