Philippines: Look Marge, even MORE Muslim violence.

10 killed in "strategic offensive aimed at restarting the peace process". 

Now, there's some Islamic logic for you.  You want peace?  We're going to terrorize innocent civilians until you give us what we want - there's your peace. 

Julkipli Wadi, an analyst and professor at the Institute of Islamic Studies at the University of Philippines, said, "The recent attacks may be viewed as a strategic offensive" by the insurgents to pressure the government to restart the peace process.

About the recent attacks:

On Tuesday, members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main group that has been fighting for Muslim self-rule in the predominantly Roman Catholic region since the 1970s, attacked villages in Sultan Kudarat township, killing nine civilians and wounding more, the military said.

The next day, Christmas Eve, the rebels reportedly staged another attack, this time in the town of Alamada.  "The attacks came while the people were setting off firecrackers. The attackers timed their attacks during the revelry," said Ernesto Concepcion, mayor of Alamada, according to ABS-CBN television

The military said the rebels attacked other areas on Christmas Day, firing rocket-propelled grenades at power lines in Sultan Kudarat and looting.

"They ransacked the houses of civilians and extorted money from them. They even stole the guns of retired soldiers living in the area," Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres Jr., an army spokesman, said Friday.

The situation in a nutshell.

The government suspended peace talks with the MILF after the group launched attacks across Mindanao in August to protest a court order stopping a deal that would have given the rebels control over a Muslim autonomous region.

More than 600,000 people were displaced in fighting that followed, while dozens of civilians, guerrillas and soldiers have been killed.