Arroyo to visit Malaysia soon

Arroyo to visit Malaysia soon

MANILA (AFP): In her first overseas foray since taking office in January, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo will visit Malaysia this week as the two neighbors try to end a long and bloody Filipino Muslim rebellion.

Predominantly-Muslim Malaysia is currently hosting talks between Manila and the largest Philippine separatist Muslim group. There are expectations of a peace pact being clinched during Arroyo's trip.

Malaysia once provided arms and sanctuary to rebels fighting for a separate Muslim state in the southern third of the predominantly-Christian Philippine archipelago.

Kuala Lumpur's tacit support for the armed rebellion stemmed from Manila's historical claim over Malaysia's Sabah state, revived by Arroyo's father the late President Diosdado Macapagal in 1963.

Analysts said Arroyo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad would sidestep "prickly issues" and focus on ending decades of fighting in the southern Philippines so that they could speed up development of border areas for mutual benefit.