Manila - Two soldiers were killed in a clash with Muslim secessionist rebels in the southern Philippines, an army spokesman said Monday.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said the fighting erupted Sunday when patrolling troops encountered 10 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Alamada town in North Cotabato province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Brawner said government troops also lost an M-14 assault rifle to the rebels, who fled to the mountains after nearly 30 minutes of fighting.

The clash occurred two days after seven soldiers and 20 MILF rebels were killed in an eight-hour battle in Mamasapano town in nearby Maguindanao province.

The MILF has been fighting for the establishment of a separate Islamic state in the southern region of Mindanao since 1978.

Peace talks between the MILF and the Philippine government have been suspended since August 2008 when the guerrillas launched a series of attacks in Mindanao, triggering fierce fighting with the military.

Nearly 300 people were killed in the attack and subsequent fighting, while more than 500,000 civilians were displaced by the violence.

The hostilities erupted after the Supreme Court stopped the signing of a territorial agreement between the MILF and the government that would have expanded a Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao. (dpa)