On 10th day of Zambo crisis: 14 killed, 117 wounded gov't forces

MANILA, Philippines- As the Zamboanga City crisis entered its 10th day, a total of 14 government forces were killed while 114 were wounded in the ongoing clashes with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II said on Wednesday.

Roxas added that as of this afternoon, a total of 178 hostages were rescued and released from the hands of the MNLF. Twenty one more, on the other hand, are still unaccounted for.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, officer in charge of the Armed Forces public affairs office, said of the figure, three of the casualities and 12 wounded were police officers while the rest were military personnel.

"We are not demoralized because they have not died in vain. We have rescued more than a hundred of the hostages. We have constricted the enemy stronghold to a small area. Flights will resume tomorrow. Some shops have reopened," Cabunoc said in a statement.

Reports said two of those killed were hit by sniper fire Tuesday night. 

The Nur Misuari-led faction of the MNLF attacked the southern city last week, torching villages and using civilians as human shields.

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered government agencies to ensure swift delivery of government services to the city where more than 80,000 people are already affected by the conflict.