Armed clashes between soldiers and suspected New People's Army guerillas erupted anew yesterday in southern Negros and claimed the life of another rebel.

Lt. Col. Norman Flores, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, said the encounter took place while soldiers were conducting clearing operations in Barangay Haba, Candoni, Negros Occidental.

The running gunbattle which lasted for 15 minutes ended with the death of the suspected NPA fighter whose identity had not been established up to press time, Flores said.

Recovered from the encounter site were an M-14 assault rifle, seven magazines containing ammunitions, an empty magazine and a back pack.

No casualty was reported on the government side while the body of slain rebel was turn over to the Candoni Police Station for identification.

Pursuit operations for the escaping rebels were still going on last night.

Last week, soldiers of the 61st IB also overran a suspected rebel camp in Barangay Camalanda-an, Cauayan, that also resulted in the killing of two rebels and the injury of five others.*GPB

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