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Peace talks between the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Philippine government will succeed only if President Gloria Arroyo is no longer the head of state, said Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman, Jose Maria Sison.

Top military men cleared three ranking officers who were recommended by the senate to undergo a court martial proceeding for alleged collusion with the Abu Sayyaf group.

A parish priest has expressed gratitude to the senate for having accused three top-ranking military men of colluding with the Abu Sayyaf leaders and paving the way for the payment of ransom for the release of hostages in southern Philippines last year.

Opposition parties yesterday denounced the constitutional amendments enforced by military ruler President General Pervez Musharraf, hoping that the parliament emerging from the October elections would dismantle the "dictatorial measures".

Abu Sayyaf rebels have beheaded two of the six hostages they kidnapped in Jolo, southern Philippines, the military said yesterday.

Pirates killed 11 fishermen as they attacked a trawler named Prince Warren FT, off the southern island of Jolo on Monday, a police report said yesterday.

Pakistan yesterday indefinitely postponed a regional Asian summit after India failed to confirm its attendance at the seven-nation economic Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit, scheduled to take place in the Pakistani capital on January 11-13.

A bomb blamed on militants killed a town mayor and 12 others in the southern Philippines yesterday but the government played down the chances of a nationwide wave of Christmas Eve blasts.

MILF denies killing civilians in ambush

NPA rebels admit they bombed Marcos bust

An alleged leader of an Abu Sayyaf urban terrorist cell operating in Manila and Zamboanga City was presented to President Gloria Arroyo yesterday, three days after he was captured by military and police intelligence agents.

The official machinery was used openly to bring people to the venue of President General Pervez Musharraf's first mass rally in Lahore yesterday where he kicked off his entry into national political life.