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From Al-Jazeera:

Fighting is continuing in the Philippines as government forces clash with Muslim rebels holding more than 100 hostages in the southern port city of Zamboanga.

Residents were sent fleeing on Thursday as government troops attempted to flush out rebel fighters from areas of the city, with the fighting leaving houses on fire.

An unidentified group of gunmen launched a separate attack on a town on the island of Basilan, local media reported.

The Philippine government has warned Muslim rebels, to end peacefully a standoff “at the soonest possible time”.

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