ZAMBOANGA CITY, 9 March 2006 — A supposed plot to oust the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sent rebel and government officials scampering yesterday to verify the reports.

News of the failed coup allegedly hatched by hard-line elements against the moderate Murad Ebrahim spread like wildfire within military circles in the southern Philippines.

Government officials said they were worried that Murad’s ouster could imperil the five-year old peace talks between Manila and the country’s largest Muslim separatist rebel group. Talks brokered by Malaysia have achieved stunning successes that both sides believe a peace agreement would finally be signed this year.

Reports of the failed coup were attributed to Musanip Abdullah, a senior commander allied with Murad.

Abdullah, also known as Kumander Adan, was quoted by local media as saying that factions opposed to the peace talks spearheaded the move and that the coup plot has been foiled.

But the MILF’s chief peace negotiator, Mohagher Iqbal, said Abdullah has disowned the reports attributed to him.

“It is a total lie. I have spoken with Abdullah and he strongly denied everything, and he did not talk to anybody about any supposed coup plot against Brother Murad Ebrahim. It’s toilet lie,” Iqbal said.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the report could be a ploy by those opposing the peace talks.

“There could be efforts to divide the MILF, but our group is intact and we are all united and behind one leader and that is Murad Ebrahim,” he told Arab News.

The reports did not say who was behind the plot, but Arab News sources claimed that a small rebel faction led by Samir Hashim, younger brother of MILF founder Salamat Hashim, was one of those opposing Murad’s rule.

Hashim, the leader of the MILF’s elite 106th Base Command in Maguindanao province, is reportedly advocating the establishment of a strict Islamic state in the southern Philippines.

Hashim is said to be popular among MILF hard-liners and most of his supporters were linked by the military to the Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.

Among them is Wahid Tundok, tagged as one of those who provided sanctuary to Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani and Dulmatin and Pitono, JI bomb-makers who were previously reported hiding inside so-called MILF stronghold in Maguindanao and blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings. The MILF had suspended Tundok because of his links with the JI.

But Kabalu said he personally believed Hashim and Tundok would never launch a coup against Murad.

“Samir will never attempt to unseat brother Murad. He has no capability to unseat brother Murad and he is loyal to the MILF leadership, and this is same also with Wahid Tundok,” Murad said.

Secretary Jesus Dureza, chief peace adviser of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said he had no inkling about the failed MILF coup when asked about it. “I have not received any report about it,” he said.

Military officials said there is a power struggle among top MILF leaders but the moderates like Murad have overwhelming support from the membership.