Twenty dead in Philippines clashes

The aftermath of deadly clashes in the southern Philippines between the army and an Islamic secessionist group.
At least 20 people are dead after violence erupted when an army platoon ran into rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF.
Army officials said 13 soldiers and 7 rebels died in the attack.
Ten missing soldiers are reportedly being held by the MILF.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL RANDOLPH CABANGBANG, SAYING:
"We are currently coordinating with the ad-hoc joint action group and the committee on cessation and hostilities to contact the MILF, to verify the report."
Helicopter gunships and army planes were deployed to end the fighting and rescue the wounded.
Talks between MILF and the government to end the decades-long conflict stalled recently in Malaysia after the rebels rejected an autonomy proposal.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters