Guns silent in RP on eve of cease-fire

Guns silent in RP on eve of cease-fire

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): The guns were silent yesterday on the eve of a cease-fire between the government and Moslem separatist rebels in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Military officials and leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said there had been no reports of further clashes, a day after both forces exchanged a barrage of mortar fire in the town of Buldon outside this city.

Manila and the MILF signed an agreement Friday calling on both forces to stop armed operations in the main southern island of Mindanao, a move President Fidel Ramos described as a "breakthrough" in the stalled peace process with the rebel group.

MILF leaders canceled cease-fire talks last month after a major army offensive which captured a vital MILF camp and inflicted heavy casualties on the guerrillas.