Rebels force closure of highway

A breakaway Moro rebel group attacked army detachments in Maguindanao dawn of July 30, forcing the closure of a national highway linking Cotabato City to General Santos City. Trees cut by rebels, a water tanker and another truck are reportedly blocking the national highway, particularly in Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao. This prompted government forces to temporarily close the road. A spokesman of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) said they launched the attack as a punitive action against soldiers. The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is holding peace talks with the government. The attacks came weeks after the government and the MILF reached a breakthrough in negotiations on wealth sharing.

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