Blas Ople, Manila's foreign secretary, has said he will attend the 30th foreign ministers' meeting of the influential Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Iran next week.

"This will give us a unique opportunity to strengthen our bonds with the Islamic countries and reinforce our efforts to bring peace to southern Philippines," Ople said referring to the government's desire for the resumption of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"We will continue to pursue greater cooperation and partnership with the members of the OIC, particularly on the common challenges that all countries face today," said Ople.

It will be the first time that the Philippines will be represented by the foreign affairs secretary at the OIC meeting, from May 28 to May 31.

Last year, Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process, led the country's delegation at the OIC annual meeting in Khartoum, Sudan.

Ople will use the occasion as an opportunity to further work for peace in the south, said Delia Albert, foreign undersecretary.

The OIC's Committee of Eight supports the resumption of the moribund peace talks between the government and the separatist MILF.

"The Philippines has always given the utmost importance to its relationship with the members of the OIC. They have been important partners in pursuing global stability and growth, as well as in bringing peace and development to the southern Philippines," Ople said.

Malaysia and Libya, both members of the OIC, have been brokering the government-MILF peace talks. Ghoulamraza Yousefi, Iranian ambassador to Manila, personally sent the invitation to the department of foreign affairs and the diplomatic note to Ople from Kamal Kharrazi, Iranian Foreign Minister.

Ople had briefed OIC ambassadors to the country in the aftermath of the MILF bombing of Koronadal city, south Cotabato province.

At that time, Ople asked the OIC ambassadors to use moral persuasion and convince the MILF to turn away from these acts of violence.

Meanwhile, Rigoberto Tiglao, Presidential Chief of Staff, warned that the MILF has a plan to bomb more public places nationwide.

"We have received intelligence reports that the MILF special operations group has distributed improvised bombs to their ordinary foot soldiers for detonation in certain areas of Mindanao," said Tiglao.

This was in retaliation for the offensive ordered by the President against MILF lairs in Mindanao, in Mindanao, he told reporters.

He warned the MILF that if they carried out more bombings, it would only confirm government accusations that "they are indeed a terrorist organisation".

Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, denied any such plans. "That's an invention by the military, or part of a psychological warfare. The MILF never engages in these kinds of activities."

Tigloa said Manila considered it "very significant" that the OIC had invited Ople to the plenary sessions next week. "He will detail everything that we are doing to really take care of our Muslim brothers, which is the main interest of the OIC," Tiglao said.

But Ople is also prepared to present evidence that the MILF has been engaged in terrorism if the OIC foreign ministers asked him to do so, he stressed.

Meanwhile, two former separatist rebels have been arrested in connection with a deadly bombing of a market which left 13 dead and at least 26 others wounded early this month, police said yesterday.

Julie Mangadta, 42, and Tayuan Dimaloloy, 38, were arrested on Friday near the town of Midsayap in North Cotabato and were being interrogated, local police chief Eduardo Marquez said.

Mangadta was an ex-field commander of the MILF, who had earlier surrendered to the government to become a farmer. Dimaloloy was also an ex-MILF guerrilla.

Police said the two had played a role in the May 10 bombing of a market in the southern city of Koronadal, the latest such attack blamed on militants since March.

The two were now being interrogated, Marquez said, without giving details of the evidence authorities had against them.

The military said that troops have killed 77 rebels in a week-long offensive against the MILF.

Fourteen guerrillas were wounded while 97 were forced to surrender following fierce air and ground assaults on their hideouts, southern military commander Major General Roy Kyamko told reporters.