Manila blamed for pullout of monitors

Manila: The Philippines' largest Muslim rebel group blamed the government of President Gloria Arroyo yesterday for delays in peace talks, and threatened to "seek other means" to pursue its political goals.

In a statement Al Haj Ebrahim Murad, leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said the government was responsible for Malaysia's decision to withdraw from an international peace monitoring team in the south.

"If the peace process fails as a result of the government's dilly-dallying and spoiling, we are left with no choice but to seek other means of achieving our objective," Murad said in a statement posted on the rebels' website.