Philippines: 16 hurt in communist rebel attacks

Philippine military officials say communist rebel attacks using land mines have wounded 11 troops and 5 civilians in the south of the country.
Army Col. Marcos Normal Flores, Jr, a brigade commander in the area, condemned the attacks today as a violation of international humanitarian law.
A military statement says New People's Army guerrillas encountered troops yesterday in Davao del Sur province, triggering an hour-long clash.
As troops manoeuvred, the rebels exploded a land mine, wounding 11 soldiers. It quoted villagers as saying rebels carried away four dead colleagues.
The guerrillas later set off a land mine as three ambulances were heading to evacuate injured troops, wounding five civilian disaster response volunteers.

Talks to end the rebellion, one of the world's longest-running Marxist insurgencies, have stalled since 2011.