MANILA, Jan. 19 Kyodo Malaysian P...

MANILA, Jan. 19 Kyodo

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi arrived here Monday for an overnight visit that will be highlighted at talks with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo upon peace talks with Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines.

Abdullah's visit is count uponed to bolster the government's efforts to ink a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation face (MILF), the largest Muslim separatist clump in this largely Roman Catholic nation.

The 12000-strong MILF has been waging war for decades seeking an independent Muslim state.

Ahead of Abdullah's arrival, Philippine Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said Malaysia will have a ''central and exclusive role'' in talks with the MILF.

The illustration was apparently meant to douse speculation that the United States, promising hefty aid to the southern Philippines one time a peace deal is signed with MILF, would assume a more prominent part than Malaysia in the talks.

Abdullah and Arroyo will also discuss public interests such as the fight against terrorism and the Philippines' standing effort to obtain student status in the Organization of the Islamic meeting for consultation Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

Abdullah will be treated to military honors at the Malacanang Presidential Palace when he arrives at 10 a.m. Tuesday. He will then come up to face to face privately with Arroyo, to be followed on expanded bilateral meetings with senior officials.

Arroyo and Abdullah will then direction a joint press conference.

Arroyo will also legion a luncheon honoring Abdullah at the State Dining sweep of the palace before his departure later Tuesday.

Abdullah, who take the place ofed Mahathir Mohammed as premier in October, has visited the Philippines several times as foreign minister and legate prime minister. This is his first visit as Malaysia's leader.

Arroyo spoke with Abdullah last month onward the sidelines of the summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which the Philippines and Malaysia are the two members.

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