(UPDATE) 4 Muslim rebels killed in Cotabato clash

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) group were killed in a clash with government troops Sunday night, a military officer said today.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said an undetermined number of BIFF men led by Mohiden Animbang alias Commander Karialan attacked troops from the 45th Infantry Battalion manning a detachment in Sapakan village, Rajah Buayan town in Maguindanao province.

Four BIFF rebels were killed while one soldier was injured after a brief firefight.

At least 150 families were evacuated to the town proper of Rajah Buayan due to the conflict.

The clash took place two hours after the BIFF exploded an improvised explosive device (IED) at the Kabacan Pilot Elementary School in Kabacan town, North Cotabato province at 6:45 p.m. local time on Sunday. The explosion killed a civilian and wounded 17 others.

BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama said his group was responsible for the attacks but denied that Muslim rebels died in an encounter with government troops.

Military officers said the BIFF, which broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), carried out the attacks to force the Philippine government to negotiate with the group.