Replies

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=philippines

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7096069.stm

Last Updated: Thursday, 15 November 2007, 13:23 GMT

“Philippines in ‘separatist deal’”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The Philippines government says it has reached an agreement with the country’s main Islamic separatist group on boundaries for a Muslim homeland.

Government negotiator Rodolfo Garcia said “demarcation” was agreed after two days of talks in Malaysia with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Officials say the deal in Kuala Lumpur could pave the way for a final peace deal between the two sides next year.

MILF has been fighting for decades over land in the southern Mindanao region.

Negotiators are hopeful that a permanent peace agreement can be sealed by the middle of next year.

The two sides did not disclose the shape of the new agreed borders, but the talks’ Malaysian hosts said the territory would be greater than the present autonomous region in Mindanao.”