Dozens killed in week of fighting in southern Philippines

Manila: At least 48 soldiers and civilians and dozens of Muslim rebels have been killed in the southern Philippines in a week of fighting triggered by the collapse of a peace deal, the government said on Saturday.

About 200,000 people have fled their homes to escape the violence, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters on Saturday.

At least 44 people, most of them civilians, were killed when renegades from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked coastal towns in the volatile south on Monday days after a territorial agreement between the government and the rebels was halted by the Supreme Court.

Teodoro said at least four soldiers and an unknown number of the guerrillas have been killed in military operations against the renegades since then. Over 50 soldiers have been injured, he said.

Some military sources have said up to 100 rebels may have died.