Davao City, Philippines - One pro-government militiaman and one communist rebel were killed Thursday in a clash in the outskirts of a southern Philippine City, a military spokesman said.

Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said the fighting erupted before dawn when about 50 communist rebels attacked a pro-government militia outpost in Davao City, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Torres said three other militiamen were wounded in the fighting that lasted for several hours.

"We suffered one killed in action and three others were wounded," he said. "But the rebels suffered undetermined number of casualties and they were repulsed. One of the slain rebels was recovered."

Zamboanga City, Philippines - Government troops captured two local communist rebel leaders and overran a guerrilla camp in the southern Philippines, a regional army chief said Wednesday.

Major General Jogi Leo Fojas said the two rebel commanders were captured Monday during a raid on a guerrilla redoubt in Santa Cruz town in Davao del Sur province, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Fojas said the soldiers seized the guerrilla encampment after 30 minutes of firefight.

The two captured guerrillas were undergoing tactical interrogation in a nearby army headquarters, according to Fojas.

Cotabato City, Philippines - Four Muslim rebels, one soldier and one pro-government militiaman were killed in clashes in the southern Philippines, a regional army chief said Wednesday.

Major General Raymundo Ferrer said four Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas and one pro-government militiaman were killed Tuesday in fierce fighting in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Ferrer said a soldier was also killed Tuesday in a clash with a separate group of MILF rebels in nearby Mamasapano town, also in Maguindanao.

Cotabato City, Philippines- One soldier was killed Tuesday in a clash with Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said.

Major Randolph Cabangbang said the firefight between government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels erupted in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

"The fighting is ongoing," he said. "We have one killed in action, but we withheld his identity pending notification of his relatives."

Manila - Philippine shares

Manila - Government troops have seized a communist rebel training camp in the southern Philippines, a military report said Monday.

The report said the camp was seized over the weekend after hours of fighting in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley province, 930 kilometres south of Manila.

The encampment consisted of several thatch huts that can accommodate about 100 people, at least 20 foxholes and observation posts.

There were no casualties on the government side during the firefight and bloodstains in the encampment indicated the rebels suffered casualties.

More troops have been dispatched to the area to pursue the rebels.