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Philippines peace deal 'in 2010' Philippines peace deal 'in 2010'
(about 1 hour later)
The Philippine government and Muslim separatist rebels hope to reach a peace deal by April next year, a Malaysian facilitator has said.The Philippine government and Muslim separatist rebels hope to reach a peace deal by April next year, a Malaysian facilitator has said.
Malaysia is brokering talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or Milf.Malaysia is brokering talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or Milf.
Earlier talks to end the group's decades-long insurgency in the south of the country collapsed 16 months ago.Earlier talks to end the group's decades-long insurgency in the south of the country collapsed 16 months ago.
At least 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict and two million people forced into refugee camps.At least 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict and two million people forced into refugee camps.
"We have agreed to begin negotiations on a comprehensive compact," said the Malaysian official brokering the talks, Othman Abdul Razak."We have agreed to begin negotiations on a comprehensive compact," said the Malaysian official brokering the talks, Othman Abdul Razak.
"We hope to sign probably by the end of the first quarter of next year, by March or early April.""We hope to sign probably by the end of the first quarter of next year, by March or early April."
He said the two sides had agreed to revive an International Monitoring Team (IMT) of ceasefire observers and an ad hoc joint action group which would try to isolate Muslim militants from criminal groups in rebel-controlled areas.He said the two sides had agreed to revive an International Monitoring Team (IMT) of ceasefire observers and an ad hoc joint action group which would try to isolate Muslim militants from criminal groups in rebel-controlled areas.
Land conflict
The two bodies pulled out more than a year ago after violence escalated in Muslim areas in the south following a Supreme Court ruling that stopped a deal between Manila and the Milf that expanded an autonomous Muslim region.The two bodies pulled out more than a year ago after violence escalated in Muslim areas in the south following a Supreme Court ruling that stopped a deal between Manila and the Milf that expanded an autonomous Muslim region.
The deal seeks to put an end to a conflict that goes back decades
Non-Muslims in the region objected that the deal posed a threat to their land ownership.Non-Muslims in the region objected that the deal posed a threat to their land ownership.
Analysts note that although it is often described in religious terms - pitting Muslims against a Catholic-dominant majority - the conflict has been focused on ownership of resource-rich land.Analysts note that although it is often described in religious terms - pitting Muslims against a Catholic-dominant majority - the conflict has been focused on ownership of resource-rich land.
More than 1,000 people were killed and nearly 750,000 people were displaced by fighting between security forces and Muslim rebels from August 2008 until July this year.More than 1,000 people were killed and nearly 750,000 people were displaced by fighting between security forces and Muslim rebels from August 2008 until July this year.