Cotabato City, Philippines - A pro-government militiaman was killed and four more wounded in an attack by Muslim secessionist rebels in the southern Philippines, a military report said Monday.

The report said the fighting erupted Saturday when about 30 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked an army outpost in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

The rebels also suffered an undermined number of casualties, the report said.

Manila - Philippine shares climbed by 2.32 per cent on Monday, buoyed by news about the United States government's ambitious plan to revive its ailing financial system.

The Philippine Stock Exchange's 30-share composite index gained 57.34 points to close at 2,520.13 from Friday's close of 2,462.79.

A total of 1.32 billion shares worth 3.09 billion pesos (67.15 dollars) were traded.

Gainers outpaced losers, 73 to 21, with 44 issues unchanged.

Manila - One person was killed and thousands of passengers stranded as a tropical storm lashed the Philippines for the past three days, a government agency said Monday.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said the fatality was drowned after a motorized boat capsized Sunday while crossing a swollen river in Valderama town in Antique province, 435 kilometres south of Manila.

The NDCC said two other people remained missing while three others survived in the accident triggered by heavy rains brought about by tropical storm Hagupit

Close to 4,000 passengers have been stranded in different ports in central and eastern provinces after the coast guard banned vessels from sailing due to strong waves.

Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has appointed Police Deputy Director General Jesus Versoza as the country's new police chief, a government statement said Monday.

Versoza, the current police deputy chief for operations, will replace Director General Avelino Razon who was set to retire later in the month.

Arroyo issued the appointment of Versoza shortly before leaving for the United States late Sunday to attend the 63rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, the statement said.

Manila - Three communist rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in the central Philippines, an army spokesman said Friday.

Manila - Philippine share prices surged 4.69 per cent on Friday, buoyed by the US government's plan to rescue troubled financial institutions.

The 30-share composite index of the Philippine Stock Exchange gained 110.42 points to close at 2,462.79 from Thursday's finish of 2,352.37.

Gainers led losers 99 to 19, while 29 stocks were unchanged.

A total of 1.03 billion shares worth 3.095 billion pesos (66.274 million dollars) were traded.