COTABATO CITY, 18 April 2003 — At least eight government militia members were killed and many others were wounded in an attack by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters on Wednesday, the separatist group said in a statement yesterday.

About 30 militia men, all members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs), were on foot patrol at Briente village in Tulunan, North Cotabato when the guerrillas pounced on them at about 4 p.m., the statement said. The arrival of army reinforcements prevented the MILF fighters from completely overpowering their target.

A firefight also erupted at Sinsiman village in Pigkawayan, North Cotabato, Wednesday morning from 6 a.m.to 8 p.m., and five people were reported killed and several others injured. But the MILF said the fighting involved the clans of Hadji Salik of barangay Matilak and Munib of sitio Bangon in Sinsiman, who have a long-standing conflict between them. The army earlier blamed the MILF for the clash.