MARAWI CITY, Philippines – Efforts to rescue up to 2,000 civilians trapped by fighting between troops and Islamist militants here failed on Sunday when a proposed truce ended in a hail of gunfire and explosions, authorities and witnesses said. ADVERTISEMENTLocal authorities said government officials, working through intermediaries, had reached agreement with the militants to observe a four-hour ceasefire Sunday to let the trapped civilians leave. As a result only some 170-plus trapped residents were led to safety Sunday, according to the military. ADVERTISEMENTThe chief delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern Philippines told AFP those rescued Sunday were mostly men and appeared to be in relatively good health. Unarmed MILF rebels were to have escorted the civilians to safety during a four-hour period ending at noon (0400 GMT).

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 04, 2017 12:11 UTC