Gov't, Muslim rebels to resume peace talks in April

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, were postponed to April, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said Philippine President Benigno Aquino has requested the postponement of the 37th round of formal exploratory talks between the government and the MILF which was scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Deles said three government peace panel members flew to Kuala Lumpur to personally convey the request to Mohagher Iqbal, MILF's chairman of the peace panel and to set a new date for the peace talks.

Aquino said the postponement will give time for the Philippine government and the MILF to review the annexes.

"We have to be able to come to an understanding on these annexes so that the crafting of the new organic act will be something that all stakeholders can agree to and rally behind," he said.

The government and the MILF have yet to complete and sign the annexes on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, and normalization. The annexes on transitional arrangements and modalities have been drafted last month.

These annexes will form part of a comprehensive agreement between which will pave the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro entity to replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Deles also said the Philippine government and the MILF will discuss preparations for the Transition Commission, the 15-man body which will draft the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro.

The commission will conduct its first en banc meeting in the first week of April.