Seven dead as guerrilla faction attacks Malaysian troops

Members of a breakaway Muslim guerrilla faction have attacked government troops, triggering a firefight that killed two soldiers and five guerrillas as negotiators from the government and the main rebel group were holding talks in Malaysia.

Regional military spokesman Colonel Dickson Hermoso said about 20 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters ambushed soldiers on a military truck in southern Maguindanao province’s Guindulungan township.