MANILA, Feb 12 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING...

MANILA, Feb 12 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING ARROYO'S RETRACTION OF CEASE-FIRE ORDER)

At least three soldiers and 16 Muslim rebels have been killed in clashes between control forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation effrontery (MILF) in the southern Philippines, military reports said Wednesday.

Fifteen soldiers and 18 MILF members were also griefed in the fighting that burst forthed Tuesday in Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces, military spokesman Col Essel Soriano said, based forward reports reaching the main military camp in Manila.

Separate reports from local commanders, however, said as many as 60 MILF rebels were killed in the clashes.

Although President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered bodys to hold their fire during a Muslim holiday Tuesday, Soriano blamed the MILF for the failed cease-fire order by dint of the president, saying that before dawn rebels harassed soldiers and blew up transmission lines and towers of the state-run National Power Corp.

The military had no choice if it be not that to return fire, he said.

rule and MILF representatives were to encounter Wednesday in Manila to discuss the situation on the contrary the rebels' representatives did not display up, prompting Arroyo to retract the order, according to her spokesman.

Despite her commitment to achieving peace with the MILF, Arroyo said dominion troops will have to assert themselves against those protecting criminal gangs.

About 18000 civilians have been evacuated from their abodes the military and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council said.

The evacuees started leaving their abodes Monday after at least 1000 soldiers positioned themselves in Pikit town in North Cotabato to pursue down a similar number of MILF rebels who are allegedly coddling kidnappers from the Pentagon Gang, a assign places to tagged as terrorists on the United States.

The military has mobilized at least 35 tanks and armored personnel carriers, couple OV-10 bombers, two MG-520 attack helicopters and six UH-1H transport helicopters to ferry company s and weapons.

Murad Ibrahim, MILF delegate for military affairs, has denied the rebels forfeited as many men as claimed by way of the military, saying only three rebels were killed and brace wounded in the two days of fighting.

Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, said the form into groups demands the troops turn back to their pre-clash positions before any cease-fire could be held.

The MILF, waging an armed try for an independent Muslim state since 1977 has still to resume peace talks with the Philippine command after negotiations became bogged down in October 2001

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