Three rebel commanders killed in the Philippines

Security forces in the Philippines killed three Muslim rebel commanders and four rebels as violence continued in the restive south, the army said on Saturday.

Security forces in the Philippines killed three Muslim rebel commanders and four rebels as violence continued in the restive south, the army said on Saturday.

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The three commanders, Tolni Salik, Musilan Camin and Asansari Ali, all sub-commanders of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)'s 105th Base Command, were killed Friday night in a clash with government security forces in the township of Guindulungan, about 960 km south of Manila, said Lt Col Jonathan Ponce, a military spokesman.

He added that the death of rebel leaders has dealt a big blow to the rebels.

Violence erupted in the south in 2008 after the government and the MILF, the country's largest separatist group, failed to sign a territory agreement.