1 killed in first clash after Xmas truce — Army chief

A suspected communist rebel was killed while a government militiaman was wounded following a clash in Samar province early Tuesday, the first reported clash between Army soldiers and New People's Army insurgents after the end of the 18-day holiday truce. Field reports reaching Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said the clash occurred 1:30 a.m. when elements of the Army's 34th Infantry Battalion engaged an undetermined number of NPA rebels in barangay (village) Mahanud in Matuguinao town. Ortiz identified the wounded government militiaman only by his surname Duran. The slain rebel's identity was not immediately known while an M16 rifle was recovered by the operating troops in the encounter site. On Monday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said government forces were prepared for any attack to be staged by the communist rebels soon as the ceasefire ends. The ceasefire between the government and communist rebels, which began December 16, is the longest in 10 years. It was meant to be part of confidence-building measures for the upcoming informal peace talks in Norway this month and resumption of formal negotiations next month. The ceasefire, however, was marred by skirmishes between government forces and NPA rebels. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV