One soldier and 13 separatist rebels were killed on Monday in a five-hour encounter in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, a military official said.

The soldier was killed in the encounter between government troops and some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)which took place at about 12:15 p.m. local time (0415 GMT), Philippine TV GMA News reported, quoting a military spokesmen Randolph Cabangbang.

While only identifying seven of the slain rebels, Cabangbang said that "Reliable intelligence report" showed a total of 13 rebels were killed in the conflict.

All of the rebels were followers of MILF sub-commander Ameril Ombra Kato, one of the most wanted rebel leaders by the government,he added.

Government forces have been pursuing Ameril Ombra Kato and two other MILF sub-commanders, Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian and Abdullah Macapaar, for more than two months since early August. The rebels and their followers attack towns and villages in the southern region of Mindanao after the government failed to sign a territorial pact with the MILF.

At least 103 people have been confirmed killed in the continuous clashes since Aug. 10, according to a latest report released by the government. Military officials estimated that some200 rebels have been eliminated in the operations against the separatists.

The 12,000-strong MILF has been fighting for a separate Islamic state since 1978. It signed a ceasefire in 2003 with the government, but skirmishes have been going on and off along with the peace talks between the two sides.

Violence escalated in Mindanao after the Philippine Supreme Court halted the signing of the pact scheduled for Aug. 5 in Kuala Lumpur. More than half a million people have been affected by the military conflict and the International Committee of the Red Cross said earlier that the clash in the southern Philippines has reached its worst point in five years.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2008)