Muslim rebels hand over their weapons in new push for peace

The Philippines' largest rebel group retired nearly 150 guerrillas and handed over 75 firearms for decommissioning on Tuesday to encourage the nation's Congress to pass a proposed law giving minority Muslims self-rule.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III visited the headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to witness the weapons handover, the first concrete action by the organization to abandon a rebellion that has claimed more than 100,000 lives over a decade.

Aquino and senior Moro rebel leaders both said the largely symbolic activity was intended to spur Congress to pass a delayed proposed law giving Muslims self-rule in the Catholic nation's south under the terms of a 2014 peace treaty.