Fighting has resumed between government troops and Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines, despite a recently agreed ceasefire.Officials said troops were battling to retake a series of villages near Zamboanga city, where members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are holding about 100 people hostage.
More than 50 people have died in the violence, now in its sixth day.
Another 60,000 people have fled their homes and a curfew is in place.
Late on Friday, Vice-President Jejomar Binay said he had spoken by telephone to Nur Misuari, the MNLF leader who is pushing for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.
Mr Binay said the rebel leader had agreed to a ceasefire as well as talks to resolve the Zamboanga standoff.
But analysts say it is unclear how this would work in practice, especially as Nur Misuari’s whereabouts are unknown – and by Saturday morning it appeared that the ceasefire agreement had already broken down.
Schools and shops have been closed, with only essential government offices open, according to aid agencies.
The MNLF was founded by Nur Misuari in 1971, with the goal of fighting the Philippine state for an independent Islamic nation.
The group then signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996.
But Nur Misuari has complained that his faction has been marginalised in a peace agreement currently being negotiated between the government and another insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Last month, he declared an independent Muslim state in the southern Philippines. – BBC News
