The Philippine government and the country’s largest Muslim rebel group have begun what they hope will be the final round of talks on ending a decades-long rebellion. Negotiators from Manila and the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front say they hope to iron out differences over the final issues of rebel disarmament and minority Muslim control over resource-rich waters in the negotiations that started Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Despite the optimism, both sides warned a peace pact would not immediately end violence in the southern Philippines, where at least three other armed Islamic groups operate.—AP
Your Thoughts …
