ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front declared a halt to fighting that has killed more than 1,500 soldiers and rebels in Mindanao.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, said MILF leader Murad Ebrahim has signed the order suspending all military actions against the government.
“We are reciprocating the government’s suspension of military operations against the MILF. With these declarations of cease-fire, we can now move on and talk about peace in Mindanao,” Iqbal told Arab News by phone from his headquarters in Mindanao.
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had ordered a halt on all military offensives against the MILF in an effort to revive the stalled peace talks. Arroyo’s decision came after the military said its arsenal is being depleting by the fighting that re-ignited last year after peace talks collapsed.
Security officials said more than a thousand rebels have been killed in the fighting, but the MILF ha disputed the report and claims to have killed over 500 Filipino troops. More than half a million people have been displaced in the war and are currently in temporary refugee shelters in Maguindanao province.
