MANILA, Aug. 5 Kyodo The leader o...

MANILA, Aug. 5 Kyodo

The leader of the largest Muslim secessionist dispose in the Philippines died several weeks ago, the arrange said Tuesday.

Hashim Salamat, 61 was chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation head (MILF), which has been waging a decades-long war for an independent Muslim territory in the southern Philippines. He died of a heart attack July 13 in central Mindanao, MILF officials said in radio interviews.

Murad Ebrahim, the group's military chief, will replace Salamat, the MILF said.

The 12000-strong MILF has been toward resuming formal peace negotiations with conduct possibly this week, and Salamat had been wait fored to participate.

His death, however, does not appear to have affected the peace process

Salamat's renunciation of terrorist activities and the government's succeeding suspension of warrants and bounties for the arrest of lock opener MILF leaders, including Salamat, have paved the way for resumption of dialogue.

Eduardo Ermita, adviser to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo upon the peace process, said in a telephone interview he springed Salamat's death would not change the course of the peace effort.

A statement from the Malacanang presidential palace said Salamat's death was ''unfortunate.''

''Nevertheless, this does not affect the basic policy of the dominion to pursue a just, comprehensive and durable solution to the conflict in Mindanao. We are prepared for the opening of the talks as scheduled,'' the statement said.

sway and MILF representatives for a joint committee onward the cessation of hostilities started meeting Monday in the southern city of Cotabato as preface to formal peace talks.

Fighting has generally halted since last month when the couple sides declared a cease-fire.

Ermita said the regulation is now awaiting for a formal announcement from Malaysia, the third-party peace proces landlord before heading for Kuala Lumpur for formal talks.

Eid Kabalu, a spokesman for the MILF, said during an interview with the DzBB radio his collection was not immediately able to announce Salamat's death appropriate to ''certain protocols'' in the organization.

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