KL backs Manila peace talks

KL backs Manila peace talks

THAILAND: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has assured the Philippines that his country will continue to broker peace talks between Manila and Muslim guerrillas even after his retirement at the end of the month, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Tuesday.

In talks on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok, Mahathir assured the Philippine president that his successor would continue the peace process between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is waging a bloody separatist rebellion in the southern Philippines, Arroyo said.

"We talked about the continuity of the peace process," Arroyo told reporters. "He said his successor shares his views and it will probably be the same people on the ground who will be assisting us."

Malaysian-brokered talks have led to a cease-fire, but intermittent clashes have scuttled past negotiations. Formal talks were expected to resume in Malaysia in the next few weeks, Philippine officials said. -- AP