Eight policemen killed in Philippines attack

MANILA - Eight police officers were killed Saturday in an attack by communist rebels in the eastern Philippines, a police spokesman said.

The officers were aboard a pick-up when they were ambushed by the guerrillas in Catarman town in Northern Samar province, 450 km south-east of Manila, Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said.

Cruz said the officers were to investigate a reported shooting in the village of Imelda when they were attacked.

There were no reports of casualties among the guerrillas.

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