'Peace with rebels within reach'

'Peace with rebels within reach'

MANILA (AFP): President Fidel Ramos said Wednesday that a negotiated settlement with Moslem rebels in the southern Philippines was "finally within reach," after the two sides reported progress in the latest round of peace talks ended last week.

The government and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are scheduled to meet in Indonesia sometime in October to work out the remaining issues in the proposed peace agreement, he told a news conference.

Spokesmen for both sides earlier said the Jakarta talks were scheduled for next month.

He expressed elation over the negotiations "steadily gaining ground."