Relief agencies in the southern Philippines say more than one-hundred-thousand people have fled their homes in the past month to escape fighting between security forces and Muslim rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The rebels have been fighting for an Islamic state for almost thirty years.

In recent weeks, government troops have been using helicopter gunships and artillery to attack suspected rebel positions.

Twelve towns in the Lanao del Norte province have been evacuated and refugees are being given handouts of rice and sardines.

Rice has also been sent to a group of rebels who have been holding a group of about thirty hostages mainly children for more than three weeks in a jungle camp on Basilan island. A local movie star, Robin Padilla, has been negotiating with the hostage takers, who belong to the the Abu Sayyaf movement .

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service