MILF withdraw from villages

MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) fighters have withdrawn from a number of villages in North Cotabato, Philippines. Five more villages have been cleared of MILF by the Philippines army leaving eight still in rebel hands. A Philippines police spokesman said the MILF had retreated back to bases in Maguindanao. Residents of the villages have not yet been given the all clear to return to their homes before they have been checked for land mines.