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