The Philippine defense department ordered troops Tuesday to suspend fighting with Muslim rebels after seven militants were killed in renewed clashes on the southern island of Mindanao. Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes issued the cease-fire order on instructions from the presidential palace, Jesus Dureza, the government’s chief peace negotiator with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, told Reuters. “Secretary Reyes told me at 1:30 p.m. that he had ordered the military to suspend operations,” Dureza said. A military spokesman said fighting between government forces and the MILF flared at dawn Tuesday after a large guerrilla group opened fire on soldiers in Pikit town while troops were having breakfast. Full Story