Manila  - One communist rebel was killed Saturday in a clash with government troops in an eastern Philippine town, a military report said.

The fighting erupted early Saturday when patrolling troops encountered heavily armed communist guerrillas in Candelaria town in Quezon province, 120 kilometres south-east of Manila.

Government troops also recovered one assault rifle from the slain guerrilla, who has yet to be identified.

There were no casualties on the government side and troops were dispatched to the area to pursue the fleeing rebels.

The clash occurred two days after the yuletide truce between the government and the guerrillas ended Thursday.

Communist rebels have been fighting the government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia. (dpa)