Troops attack Muslim rebels in Cotabato

COTABATO, Philippines (Xinhua) - Government forces launched an ground offensive against members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) this morning, a day after the end of Ramadan - the Muslim's holy month.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman for the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said that soldiers were deployed to Tubak village, Aleosan, a town in Southern Philippine province of Cotabato, after local residents reported the presence of the armed men.

Hermoso said the soldiers caught up with the undetermined number of BIFM men around 9:30 a.m. "It's a law enforcement operation... As of now, the intense fighting is ongoing," he said.

There are still no immediate reports of casualties on both sides.

Cotabato Governor Emmelou Mendoza confirmed the gun battle involved soldiers under 40th Infantry Battalion and members of BIFM, which broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2010.

Around 2,000 people have been staying in the evacuation centre in Aleosan's Pagangan village since last night, she added.

Meanwhile, MILF spokesman told Xinhua by phone that the former rebel group is in constant communication with the government to prevent a miss encounter between its members and government soldiers.   "The (MILF) central committee has reiterated with our ground troops not to participate or to augment their former comrades now subject of military operation,"he added.

The BIFM was believed to be responsible to the recent bomb attacks in the region, including the blast on Aug. 5 that left eight people dead and dozens wounded.