Manila - The Philippine military has dispatched additional troops to the country's troubled south in the wake of increasing attacks by communist rebels on businesses, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Major Armand Rico said about 700 troops, additional armoured vehicles and tanks arrived in the southern city of Davao at the weekend to augment forces in areas where guerrillas have recently attacked businesses.

"These criminal acts have seriously threatened the livelihood of the people, as the communist terrorists attack the businesses and industries that provide jobs for our people," he said.

Manila - Communist rebels attacked a provincial jail in the southern Philippines in a bid to free a detained comrade, but the attempt was foiled by security forces, the country's military said Thur

Manila - Philippine government and Muslim rebel negotiators began a two-day meeting in Malaysia Wednesday in a bid to resolve disagreements that have stalled formal peace talks for months.

Manila - Four suspected kidnappers, including a former vice mayor and a policeman, have been arrested in the Philippines after they collected ransom for hostages they already killed, police officia

Manila - One farmer was killed on Tuesday when fresh fighting broke out between government troops and Muslim separatist rebels in the southern Philippines, an army spokesman said.

Manila - The Asian Development Bank (ADB)