Muslims told to be ready for self-rule

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has called on Muslims in the southern Philippines to be ready to assume the reins of governance the moment the peace agreement with the Arroyo government is signed, a senior rebel leader said.

"The MILF has called on the Moro to be ready to assume the reins of governance the moment a peace agreement is forged for the transfer of authority to the Moro," said the MILF's website Luwaran, quoting the Front's deputy chief for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar, said.

The MILF, which is fighting for the establishment of a strict Islamic state, is currently negotiating peace with the government. "The Moro are prepared to take a bigger role and responsibilities based on our series of consultations with the different segments of society," Jaafar said.

Jaafar did not say if Manila would grant the MILF independence or autonomy in the southern Philippines. But he said every proposal from the government involving the peace process has to be debated with the members of the MILF Central Committee. "Whatever decision would be arrived at must be the product of a consultative and collective leadership," Jaafar said.

Government leaders were not immediately available to comment on Jaafar's statement.

Malaysia is currently brokering the peace talks between the Philippines and the MILF, the country's largest rebel group. The Philippines has repeatedly linked the MILF to terrorism and now to the Al Qaida and Jemaah Islamiyah terror network.

The MILF has publicly said that it is not connected with either the Al Qaida or the Jemaah Islamiyah.