17 MILF rebels, soldier killed in clash in S Philippines

        MANILA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and a Philippine government soldier were killed in a new round of clash, local TV reported on Tuesday.

       The fighting between security forces of Philippine Army and the MIlF separatist rebels erupted in southern Philippine province of Nort h Cotabato on Monday night, ANC TV said in a report.

       Four soldiers and one MILF fighter were also wounded in the fighting that started about 10 p.m. Monday in a remote village in North Cotabato, the TV report quoted Pedro Soria, commanding officer of the Army's 602 Infantry Brigade as saying.

      Soria said some 300 rebels used rocket-propelled grenades in harassing the detachment of the Army.

      A military spokesman earlier on Tuesday accused the MILF, which has fought for an independent Islamic state in the south for nearly three decades, of violating a four-year-old ceasefire with the government.

      The fighting caused several passengers and commuters stranded as authorities closed the Midsayap-Datu Piang national highway. Residents have also been evacuated from the conflict area.

    The renewed fighting came as the stalled negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF are said to resume in April in Kuala Lumpur.