Philippine military says 11 leftist rebels killed or injured

Eleven communist New People's Army rebels were either killed or injured following an attack of a military detachment in Basey town in Samar province on Sunday, a military spokesman said Monday.

Maj. Armand Rico, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division, said two government militiamen and a civilian were wounded in the attack perpetrated by about 50 rebels armed with high-powered firearms.

Rico said the rebels swooped down on the detachment at Cancaiyas village around 4:30 a.m, and the troops promptly defended the installation from the rebels who armed with machine guns.

After one hour, he said the troops briefly withdrew from the detachment as they were "overwhelmed and outnumbered" by the rebels. He said the troops retook the detachment with reinforcing troops.

Rico said "the rebels withdrew, dragging at least 11 bloodied comrades." "Based on the accounts of the civilians, 11 of them (rebels) were either killed or injured. They were dragged by their comrades on their way to escape," he said.

Rico said the army's 801st Brigade has launched pursuit operations against the rebels. He said the military has established "blocking positions", principally to intercept the withdrawing rebels.