News In Brief

Philippine Army strikes at guerrillas after ambush

The Philippine Army has launched a major counterinsurgency operation against guerrillas who killed 45 people in an ambush in the southern Philippines, military officials said Monday. Six civilians and 39 soldiers were killed by communist guerrillas of the outlawed New People's Army in the largest attack in the area for several months, they said.

Meanwhile, about 20,000 Filipino workers and supervisors at the two US bases in the Philippines - Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base - went on strike Monday. The union wants an across-the-board salary increase of 11 to 14 percent, but the American officials are prepared to give only 4 percent.