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.