Communist rebels attack Australian mining firm in Philippines

No casualties were reported in the raid on Wednesday, Major Randolph Cabangbang said.

About 40 communist rebels swooped down on the mine site of El Dore Mining Corp  in Labo town in Camarines Norte province, 210 kilometres south-east of Manila, Cabangbang said.

The rebels burned four vehicles, a drilling equipment and a generator set. They also carted away an undetermined number of guns, computer sets and cellular phones before fleeing to the mountains.

The Communist Party of the Philippines recently ordered its armed wing - the New People's Army - to attack foreign mining firms in the Philippines.

The Philippine government has been promoting various mining projects in the country, attracting foreign investors but also criticisms from various groups.

On Wednesday, an anti-mining activist was killed during a protest rally outside an Australian nickel mining site in the central Philippine province of Romblon.

Arman Marin, 42, was leading a small group of protesters outside the Romblon Nickel Mining Project, operated by Australian firm Pelican Resources Ltd, when a company guard shot him at close range.

The suspect surrendered to local authorities early Thursday. //DPA