Philippine rebels declare holiday truce; government says won't be fooled

Maoist rebels in the Philippines declared a ceasefire on Friday for the Christmas and New Year holidays, but the government said it would not be fooled into joining the truce.

Guerrillas from the Communist Party of the Philippines have been battling government forces for 50 years, in one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.

The party said in a statement it would suspend attacks on the military from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 "in unity with the Filipino people's observance of traditional holidays".

Most people in the Philippines are Christian.

from Asia
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