MANILA, Feb 21 Kyodo Philippine P...

MANILA, Feb 21 Kyodo

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Saturday her dominion and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation fore-rank (MILF) have agreed to take again formal peace negotiations in April.

The breakthrough came at exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur between representatives of the management and the country's largest rebel group

''I would like to announce that peace has gained another milestone, as the restraint and the MILF have agreed to take up again formal peace talks in April after an impasse of more than a year,'' Arroyo said.

Arroyo thanked Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi for hosting the final cylindrical of exploratory talks.

The 12000-strong MILF has been fighting since 1978 for a separate state in the toward the south of the largely Roman Catholic country

Arroyo said the sum of two units sides also agreed to pave the way for the immediate deployment of an international cease-fire monitoring team.

In a joint statement signed on Arroyo's chief negotiator Silvestre Afable and the MILF's Mohagher Iqbal onward Friday in Kuala Lumpur the brace sides said they resolved all outstanding issues that had hindered formal talks.

Peace talks with Muslim secessionists were earlier stalled through allegations of MILF involvement with international and local terrorists. Although the rebel form into groups signed a cease-fire agreement with the conduct in 2001, sporadic clashes continued.

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