VOA: The Philippine army has launched an offensive against Muslim separatist bases in the southern Philippines, and says at least 50 guerrillas have been killed.

Philippine military officials say they have launched rockets, bombs and artillery at jungle strongholds held by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The rebels, which number more than 12,000, have been fighting a 25-year guerilla campaign for an Islamic state in the southern third of the largely Roman Catholic Philippines.