ZAMBOANGA (Philippines) - TWO Muslim separatist guerrillas were captured after attempting to sneak into the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga on Saturday, the military said.

Three members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) arrived in the Muslim enclave of Mariqui after midnight but were met by soldiers after local residents alerted the military.

After a 10-minute gun battle, two of the MILF members surrendered while the third slipped away, said Lieutenant Steffani Cacho.

Initial reports indicate the three travelled from the island of Basilan on a kidnapping mission to Zamboanga City, Cacho said without elaborating.

Troops were still tracking down other MILF rebels who are believed to still be in Zamboanga City.

The government suspended peace talks with the MILF after guerrillas attacked targets across Mindanao in August in retaliation over a court order halting a deal that would have given the rebels control over a Muslim autonomous region.

More than 600,000 people were displaced in the fighting that followed, while dozens of civilians, guerrillas and soldiers have been killed so far. -- AFP