Libya extends monitors' stay in the Philippines

Manila: Libya has agreed to extend the stay of the International Monitoring Team contingents that oversee the situation in southern Philippines.

At the same time, Japan's ambassador to the Philippines, Makoto Katsura, called on Manila to revive peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Libya's charges d' affaires to the Philippines, Sadek AS Osman, said his government, through its leader Muammar Gaddafi, has always been supportive to finding peaceful resolution to the Mindanao conflict.

"We just received today [Wednesday] a message from Tripoli that our government has agreed to the request of the government of the Philippines to extend for three months the tour of duty of our monitoring team in Mindanao," Osman said in an interview conducted by the Manila Bulletin in his residence in Makati City.

He said the decision reflects "Libya's renewed support to the peace process in Mindanao".

The diplomat said his government intends to increase the current six IMT contingents to Mindanao.

Japanese ambassador Katsura, meanwhile, reiterated Japan's determination to the Philippines in achieving peace in Mindanao.

"As for the peace-building efforts in Mindanao, needless to say, we have no intention whatsoever to interfere in the Philippines' domestic affairs, but upon request, we will continue to assist the Philippines' efforts for peace-building," he said in a speech at the celebration of Japan National Day in Manila.

He added that, "although the activities of the IMT is now temporarily suspended, Japan strongly hopes that an agreement be reached for the redeployment of the IMT and that the parties concerned go back to the negotiation table as soon as possible".

Katsura said his government remains committed in providing assistance for reconstruction of the conflict-affected areas including construction of schools, vocational centres, and water supply systems "to make the local people feel peace dividends or feel that peace is better than fighting each other".

Libya's extended stay of contingents to Mindanao was warmly welcomed by both government negotiators and the MILF

Foreign undersecretary for special concerns and chief government negotiator Rafael Seguis said "it is heartening to note that Libya has maintained contingents to the IMT despite withdrawal of Malaysia".