- MANILA: The Philippine government’s chief negotiator in peace talks with communist rebels says the two sides will declare a seven-day cease-fire when they resume negotiations next week.
- The talks aim to end one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies, waged by the New People’s Army.
Top government negotiator Alexander Padilla said Friday that the Feb. 15-21 talks in Oslo, Norway, will start a series of discussions on political and economic reforms to end the hostilities.
The rebels quit negotiations in 2004 after accusing the government of instigating the inclusion of the Communist Party and its armed wing in US and European lists of terrorist organizations.
They agreed to resume talks brokered by Norway under the country’s new president, Benigno Aquino III.