Govt, rebels to issue peace pact

Govt, rebels to issue peace pact

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Philippine government negotiators and separatist Moro rebels who are engaged in a peace negotiation in Malaysia are expected to issue a communique on security arrangements, a senior official said on Sunday.

Maulana Alonto, media officer with the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF) said that a technical panel from the MILF and the Philippines government were ironing out the mechanism to stop hostilities in the southern island of Mindanao.

Maulana said each team had submitted counter proposals related to the ground rules to stop hostilities between the rebels and the Philippines armed forces.

The MILF has been waging a 23-year rebellion to establish an independent Islamic state in the south. It has signed a cease- fire pact with Manila and a new round of peace negotiations hosted by Malaysia.