Clashes postpone RP peace talks

Clashes postpone RP peace talks

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Peace talks between Moslem
insurgents and the Philippine military have been postponed by a
series of skirmishes between the two sides near this southern
city, it was announced yesterday.

The two sides accused each other of breaking an interim
cease-fire agreement and Ghadzali Jaafar, spokesman for the
Moslem insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the
rebels now expected the talks to take place on Feb. 25.

They were due to start yesterday but were postponed after
clashes near an irrigation dam project. Both sides said no-one
was injured in the clashes.

The talks were intended to forge a localized cease-fire for
the town of Buldon, which was the site of fierce fighting between
the two sides last month.