Philippine troops rescue sailors

COTABATO — Twelve sailors who were attacked by pirates in the western Pacific spent three days drifting in rubber rafts before being rescued by Philippine Marines, officials said Wednesday. The six Malaysians, five Indonesians and one Burmese were forced overboard by pirates who attacked them as they were transporting a cargo of dry goods from Indonesia. They were spotted by fishermen on Tuesday drifting in two rubber rafts off the southern island of Mindanao, said local Marine commander, Col. Alex Balutan. — AFP