49 police killed in firefight with rebels

Moro Islamic Liberation Front describes 11-hour gunbattle that tested peace accord as 'isolated case'

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front remained confident their peace talks with the government will continue despite a fierce firefight in the southern Philippines on Sunday that left dozens of policemen dead, a rebel chief said on Monday.

Government officials said on Monday that 49 police commandos were killed in violence that tested a peace accord signed in March.