Manila, Aug 19 (Xinhua) Philippine troops Wednesday retook a village from rebels in the country's western Palawan region after a gun battle in which seven militants were killed, officials said.

Two rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were captured in the military operation.

Information chief of the Philippine Armed Forces Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the clash broke out early Wednesday in the Montangule Island in southern Palawan where about 30 rebels took control of a village since last Saturday.

Navy spokesman Lt. Colonel Edgard Arevalo said a government soldier was wounded in the gun battle. No civilians were wounded in the operation, he added.

The MNLF was formed in the early 1970s and have been fighting with the government soldiers for setting up an independent homeland for Moro people in southern Philippines.