Philippine President Urges Muslim Rebels to Surrender
Members of the Philippine Marines hold their weapons aboard a truck as they block a road during fighting between government soldiers and Muslim rebels of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga city in southern Philippines, Sept. 15, 2013.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino is urging the remaining Muslim rebels in the southern city of Zamboanga to surrender and avoid further bloodshed.
His message Thursday to fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF, came as fresh fighting claimed the lives of eight rebels and one soldier. More than 100 have died and more than 100,000 have been displaced from their homes.
Aquino, who has said he will stay in the area until the crisis is over, also announced a $90 million reconstruction fund for Zamboanga.
Officials say life is starting to return to normal in Zamboanga, even as the military continues to hunt the last of the Muslim rebels who stormed the city earlier this month.
Many downtown businesses and banks reopened and the local airport Thursday welcomed its first commercial flights in days.
The MNLF has long pushed for greater autonomy in the mainly Muslim south, where a four-decade-long insurgency has killed at least 120,000 people.
The group signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996 that led to the creation of an autonomous region in Mindanao. But some of its members continued to fight, claiming Manila did not hold up its end of the deal to develop the impoverished, rural region.
Developments in Zamboanga, Philippines
1/13Government troopers arrive to reinforce their comrades after an army officer was killed in the ongoing operation against Muslim rebels, Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 19, 2013.
2/13Evacuees line up to receive food as fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels continued, Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 19, 2013.
3/13Residents line up for a shower in a stadium turned into an evacuation center in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 18, 2013.
4/13Villagers who fled the fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels rest in their tents along a boulevard in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 18, 2013.
5/13Boats of villagers fleeing the fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels crowd a port in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 18, 2013.
6/13Government troops fire mortars during renewed fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels, who have taken scores of hostages, in Zamboanga city in the southern Philippines, Sept. 16, 2013.
7/13British Guardsmen form the honor guard during the welcome ceremony for Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the start of a state visit at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
8/13Government soldiers wearing ammunition prepare to attack Muslim rebels in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 13, 2013.
9/13Government troopers prepare for an assault on Muslim rebels in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 13, 2013.
10/13Firemen rush to put out a fire that razed several homes as government troopers continue their assault on Muslim rebels in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 12, 2013.
11/13A man throws water into a burning house in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 12, 2013.
12/13Residents believed to be hostages wave white cloths as they shout at troops to stop their operation in the continuing standoff with Muslim rebels, Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept.11, 2013.
13/13Residents who abandoned their homes carry their belongings during a standoff in Zamboanga, Philippines, Sept. 10, 2013.
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