Manila - Two communist rebels were killed in clashes with government troops in a southern Philippine province, a provincial police chief said Tuesday.

Initial fighting erupted late Monday when patrolling Army soldiers encountered heavily armed communist guerrillas in Compostela town in Compostela Valley province, 960 kilometres south of Manila, Superintendent Roland de la Rosa said.

One unidentified rebel was killed in the clash and government troops recovered an assault rifle left behind by the fleeing guerrillas, he said.

A few hours later, another group of soldiers encountered another band of guerrillas in nearby Mawab town, resulting in the killing of another unidentified rebel, the superintendent said.

De La Rosa said there were no government casualties in either clash.

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