The Philippine military flew additional soldiers into embattled Zamboanga City to reinforce troops surrounding about 300 rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front who were holding four neighborhoods, officials said. Witnesses told local radio stations that they heard explosions and could see fires burning in the occupied areas.

The police said the incident began early Monday morning when several hundred heavily armed men attempted to enter the city. The men, who wore military uniforms of the Moro National Liberation Front, planned to hoist their flag over City Hall and declare independence from the national government, according to the police.