The Philippine government has given Muslim rebels 24 hours to vacate towns they are accused of occupying in the country's volatile south.
"Otherwise they shall be forcibly separated from the area," Interior Minister Ronaldo Puno told reporters.
He said about 800 rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had seized several villages.
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Now Christian leaders in the southern province of North Cotabato have accused the rebels of stealing cattle and burning homes.
"We cannot allow these things to happen," Mr Puno said, saying he was giving the rebels "24 hours to vacate".
But a rebel spokesman, Eid Kabalu, reportedly denied the rebels were occupying land when he spoke to Radio DZBB.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7546538.stmThey were given an inch.