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Filipino fighters renounce terror

Muslim separatist guerrillas yesterday publicly renounced terrorism -- a key government condition of resuming long-stalled peace talks -- and expressed confidence the government would agree to a ceasefire this week.

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said he could not immediately confirm the move by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, but said that if true, it would be a "good sign."

Government negotiator Norberto Gonzalez, who was in Malaysia meeting with rebel representatives yesterday, refused to comment.

Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu told reporters that MILF leader Salamat Hashim has issued a "policy statement rejecting terrorism" and that it has been received and is being reviewed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's office.

Kabalu said during talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the government expressed willingness to "recall or withdraw criminal charges, including bounties on MILF leaders," and to agree to a ceasefire with the rebels.

Malaysia has been brokering peace talks.

In his statement, Salamat said terrorism "is anathema to the teachings of Islam" and reiterated the MILF's "abhorrence" of terrorism, Kabalu said.

"We reject and deny any link with terrorist organizations or activities in this part of the ASEAN region, particularly in the southern Philippines and elsewhere in the world," Kabalu quoted Salamat as saying.

Despite a rebel ceasefire, which ended Saturday midnight, Arroyo has refused to resume talks with the MILF unless they publicly renounce terrorism, surrender guerrillas allegedly involved in a spate of deadly bombings and attacks in the southern Philippines.

The rebels have been accused by the government of links to the regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah and for the deaths of more than 200 people in bombings and raids this year.

They earlier ordered a unilateral cease-fire on the main southern island of Mindanao as a sign of goodwill toward restarting peace talks.

But the government refused to reciprocate, with Bunye saying on Saturday that it needs to see "more sincerity" from the Filipino rebels, citing military reports that the MILF violated its own ceasefire.

The rebels have repeatedly denied any ties to terrorist groups, including Jemaah Islamiyah, blamed for last year's Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people.

The 12,000-strong MILF has been fighting for almost three decades to establish an Islamic state in the southern Philippines.

The government is offering more autonomy for Muslim areas, but says it will never allow full independence.
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