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WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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Police on alert in Manila after clashes in south
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-19 16:21 MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said Monday's attack was carried out by a commander named Abdullah Macapaar. He said on Tuesday that the commander will "face the consequence of his action" but did not elaborate. Kabalu said the rebels were frustrated after the Supreme Court, acting on a petition filed by politicians wary of losing land and power, blocked a preliminary agreement with the rebels calling for an expanded autonomous region in Mindanao. Chief rebel negotiator Mohaqher Iqbal said if nothing comes out of the current peace process with the government, the guerrillas will return to war. The 12,000-strong rebels have been fighting for self-rule since 1978, and signed a cease-fire with the government in 2003. The peace talks between the government and the rebel group have been on and off over the past years. Violence escalated after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraint order to stop the government and the rebels from inking an instrumental agreement on territory of the projected Muslim- dominated state, the last remaining hurdle to a final political settlement that is expected to end the insurgency in the southern Philippines. |
