Manila - Seven soldiers including one officer were killed in clashes with Muslim secessionist rebels in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said three soldiers were killed Monday morning in combat with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

He said one officer was among the casualties.

Four more soldiers were killed when government troops clashed with another group of MILF rebels in nearby Datu Saudi Ampatuan town Monday afternoon.

Manila - Four more miners were rescued overnight after being trapped for one week in a flooded mineshaft in the northern Philippines, bringing the total number rescued alive to six, a regional police chief said Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin said one miner was rescued before midnight Monday while three more were found early Tuesday as rescuers work round-the-clock to take advantage of the good weather.

Manila- Two miners were rescued alive on Monday after seven days of being trapped inside a flooded mineshaft in the northern Philippines.

Manila  - Four soldiers were wounded Monday in clashes between government troops and Muslim separatist rebels in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said.

Major Armand Rico said the initial firefight between members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and government troops broke out early Monday in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Rico said fighting also broke out in the nearby town of Guindulungan. There were no reported casualties on the MILF side.

The military has intensified operations against three MILF commanders who attacked towns and seized villages last month.

Manila- A German man wanted for internet fraud in his home country was arrested in the Philippines, a senior immigration official said Monday.

Peter Uwe Muller was arrested Friday in the northern city of Angeles, 75 kilometres south of Manila, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

Libanan said Muller is facing a string of fraud cases in Dresden, Germany, after being accused of cheating European investors through internet trading.