KUALA LUMPUR: Seven Malaysians were in Zamboanga City when the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) opened fire there, according to Wisma Putra.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who revealed this in his latest update, said all were unhurt.

He said two Malaysians were moved out of the city through a land route as the Zamboanga City airport was closed to commercial flights, while the another two were relocated to Southern Philippines.

“Two more are in protected custody of Filipino authorities while another is believed to be in Basilan. Efforts to contact him are still under way,” he said yesterday.

Anifah said the ministry was currently arranging the return of those whom they had managed to contact.

“The ministry would like to repeat a travel advisory issued on Sept 10 that Malaysians should temporarily postpone their travels if they intend to travel to Zamboanga or other areas that aren’t safe until security conditions improve,” he added.

It was reported that around about 400 suspected MNLF rebels had taken over four barangays and held about 30 people hostage in Zamboanga City on Monday.

The group is led by one Haber Malik, a lieutenant of MNLF head Nur Misuari, according to radio station Radyo Agong.

The Moro group signed a 1996 peace accord with the government but many of its fighters held on to their arms and accused officials of reneging on a promise to develop an autonomous region for minority Muslims in the south.

-THE STAR