World | Philippines
Philippine government breaks off deal with Muslim rebels
A peace deal between the Philippine government and a Muslim rebel group has been cancelled, after clashes broke out this week, a government spokeswoman said on Thursday.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:13 August 21, 2008
Manila: A peace deal between the Philippine government and a Muslim rebel group has been cancelled, after clashes broke out this week, a government spokeswoman said on Thursday.
"The cancellation of the memorandum of agreement is a painful step in our collective effort to come to an agreement with the MILF," Lorelei Fajardo, a spokeswoman for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said in a statement.
However, Arroyo is willing to negotiate the deal within the constitution, the spokeswoman said.
"She (Arroyo) will seek a new agreement within the boundaries of law set within the constitution. Furthermore, the president will not allow adventurism by MILF forces to pressure government to sign any agreement even if it is for peace," Fajardo said.
The government brokered the deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last month, but it was later halted by the Supreme Court pending a verdict on an appeal by Christian groups that it was unconstitutional.
About 40 people were killed when MILF rebels attacked two towns in the restive southern region of the country.
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