PHILIPPINES-MILF RESUME TALKS

RAVICHANDRAN RAJAMANICKAM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Peace talks between the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resumed here this morning with the MILF putting forward their proposals and views to the government panel during a question and answer session.

MILF Chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said they had presented their
proposals and views this morning to the Philippines delegation headed by the
Chairman of the Philippines government's peace negotiating panel, Rafael
Seguis.

"We already presented (our proposals) in power point format...the government
side will ask questions pertaining to our paper (proposals)," he told Bernama
here Thursday.

Mohagher led a five-member delegation while Seguis headed an eight-member
delegation to the talks, being held in a hotel here.

The last peace negotiations, hosted by Malaysia, was held in January this
year.

Replying to a question, Mohagher said the meeting was held in a friendly
atmosphere.

"..although some statements were straight (point blank) to the point. But
that is the way negotiators would indicate (their side's positions on issues)"
he said.

Asked whether he was confident there would be some progress in today's
talks,
Mohagher said: "Well, I do not know at this point of time," .

The Philippines and the MILF have been talking on-and-off for 12 years to
end
a four-decade long conflict in southern Philippines.

The peace talks brokered by Malaysia since 2001, aims to end the four-decade
Muslim insurgency, that has killed 120,000 people.

On Feb 17, the MILF announced that Manila's proposal, made during talks in
Malaysia in January, was "unacceptable" and a peace deal during President
Gloria Arroyo's administration was also unlikely.

Arroyo's term as president ends on June 30.
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- BERNAMA