Philippine troops in the key port city are battling about 200 rebels linked to the Moro National Liberation Front who stormed the city Monday, taking in scores of hostages who officials say are being used as human shields.


At least 22 people have been killed in the fighting, which has forced around 13,000 residents to flee.


President Benigno Aquino visited Zamboanga Friday to "personally assess the situation."


MNLF founder Misuari has criticized the government's peace talks with a breakaway faction, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Fearing the negotiations may marginalize his own group's power, Misuari last month declared parts of the region to be independent of Manila.


It is not clear to what extent Misuari is involved in the current standoff, as he has not appeared in public nor issued any official statement.


The MNLF has long pushed for greater autonomy in the mainly Muslim south, where more than 150,000 people have died during a four decade-long insurgency.


The group signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996 that led to the creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. But some of its members continued to fight, claiming Manila did not hold up its end of the deal to develop the impoverished, rural region.


Under Misuari's leadership, the MNLF in 2001 carried out a similar attack in Zamboanga. The fighters were later allowed to leave after releasing their hostages.





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Philippines Vice President to Discuss Truce