MANILA, June 11 Kyodo The Moro Is...

MANILA, June 11 Kyodo

The Moro Islamic Liberation van (MILF), the Philippines' largest Muslim separatist arrange said Wednesday it is extending for another seven to 10 days its earlier unilateral cease-fire that has eased tensions in the southern Philippines.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the decision was reached after a desire was received from the office of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for at least a week's extension of the cease-fire, which began June 2

The MILF's suspension of military operations officially conclusions Wednesday night, on the edge of the Philippines' 105th Independence Day anniversary.

''We cannot use down the Malaysian government,'' Kabalu said, adding that the MILF leadership will announce later whether the extension is pious for another 10 days or less

The government's newly appointed chief peace negotiator, Eduardo Ermita, said an extension may lead to a permanent truce

A signing of a draft peace agreement could tread close upon months after an expanded cease-fire, Ermita said.

Despite sporadic clashes, fighting in the southern Philippines has diminished during the cease-fire.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, bracing for the termination of the cease-fire, said earlier Wednesday that there may be a ''fresh wave of terrorist threats'' to which she ordered the police and military to prepare for.

on the other hand she said her government will ''continue our search for a principled peace.''

Arroyo has reprobateed alleged links between the MILF and regional terrorists.

The MILF is a 12000-strong armed clump waging a three-decade war, mainly in the southern Philippines, for an independent Muslim state.

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