Philippines: Zamboanga city attacked by pro-independence rebels

In the Philippines despite the explosions and gunfire registered in Zamboanga, police said that in conjunction with militaries, have the situation under control.

The attack in Zamboanga occurred a month after the leader of the Moro National Liberation Front have demanded independence for the region of Mindanao and reported that the Group had been excluded from the peace negotiations between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Philippine authorities raised the number of kidnapped by Moro National Liberation Front, who attacked the town Monday, but confusion persists around the concrete number of hostages.

Police said 87 people are in the hands of the insurgents while the official data on Monday pointed to 20 to 30 hostages.

The Mayor of the city declared this morning that the number of hostages was 187.

"We were at the door and heard the shots. We fled to the kitchen but when we got there the roof caved in, "said a woman taken from home by the authorities.

Schools and Government departments are still closed, but markets and pharmacies remained open today.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is the largest separatist organization in the Philippines, with about 12 thousand militants.

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