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| Philippines reaches peace deal with Muslim rebels | Philippines reaches peace deal with Muslim rebels |
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| The Philippine government has reached a preliminary peace deal with the country's largest Muslim rebel group, in a step towards ending a decades-long insurgency in the south. | The Philippine government has reached a preliminary peace deal with the country's largest Muslim rebel group, in a step towards ending a decades-long insurgency in the south. |
| The president, Benigno Aquino III, described the deal as a "framework agreement" – a roadmap for establishing a new autonomous Muslim-administered region. It follows negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Malaysia. | The president, Benigno Aquino III, described the deal as a "framework agreement" – a roadmap for establishing a new autonomous Muslim-administered region. It follows negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Malaysia. |
| The agreement is expected to be signed in a few days in the capital, Manila, officials said. It spells out the general principles on issues including the extent of power, revenues and territory of the Muslim region. If all goes well, a final peace deal could be reached by 2016, when Aquino's six-year term ends, according to the officials. | The agreement is expected to be signed in a few days in the capital, Manila, officials said. It spells out the general principles on issues including the extent of power, revenues and territory of the Muslim region. If all goes well, a final peace deal could be reached by 2016, when Aquino's six-year term ends, according to the officials. |
| "This framework agreement paves the way for final and enduring peace in Mindanao," Aquino said, referring to the southern region. "This means that the hands that once held rifles will be put to use tilling land, selling produce, manning work stations and opening doorways of opportunity." | "This framework agreement paves the way for final and enduring peace in Mindanao," Aquino said, referring to the southern region. "This means that the hands that once held rifles will be put to use tilling land, selling produce, manning work stations and opening doorways of opportunity." |
| However, he said: "The work does not end here. There are still details both sides must thrash out". | However, he said: "The work does not end here. There are still details both sides must thrash out". |
| The deal marks the most significant progress in 15 years of negotiations with the 11,000-strong Moro group. The uprising has left more than 120,000 people dead and held back development in the south. Western governments have long worried that rebel strongholds could become breeding grounds for al-Qaida-affiliated extremists. | The deal marks the most significant progress in 15 years of negotiations with the 11,000-strong Moro group. The uprising has left more than 120,000 people dead and held back development in the south. Western governments have long worried that rebel strongholds could become breeding grounds for al-Qaida-affiliated extremists. |
| "The parties agree that the status quo is unacceptable," says the 13-page agreement, seen by the Associated Press. It calls for the creation of a new Muslim autonomous region, the Bangsamoro, to replace an existing one created in 1989 that Aquino described as a "failed experiment". | "The parties agree that the status quo is unacceptable," says the 13-page agreement, seen by the Associated Press. It calls for the creation of a new Muslim autonomous region, the Bangsamoro, to replace an existing one created in 1989 that Aquino described as a "failed experiment". |
| The accord calls for the establishment of a 15-member transition commission that would thrash out details of the preliminary agreement and draft a law creating the new autonomous region in about two years. The rebels would undertake a "graduated programme" to decommission their armed guerrilla units "so that they are put beyond use", the agreement says, without specifying a timetable. | The accord calls for the establishment of a 15-member transition commission that would thrash out details of the preliminary agreement and draft a law creating the new autonomous region in about two years. The rebels would undertake a "graduated programme" to decommission their armed guerrilla units "so that they are put beyond use", the agreement says, without specifying a timetable. |
| Philippine officials said the preliminary accord would be posted on the government's website for public scrutiny and signed soon in Manila in the presence of Aquino, the Malaysian PM, Najib Razak, and the Moro rebel chief, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. | Philippine officials said the preliminary accord would be posted on the government's website for public scrutiny and signed soon in Manila in the presence of Aquino, the Malaysian PM, Najib Razak, and the Moro rebel chief, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. |
| "It's been a long journey and this is an important milestone in our search for lasting peace," said Teresita Deles, a presidential peace talks adviser. The draft agreement, she said, "shows a very clear map toward the end point of a political settlement". | "It's been a long journey and this is an important milestone in our search for lasting peace," said Teresita Deles, a presidential peace talks adviser. The draft agreement, she said, "shows a very clear map toward the end point of a political settlement". |
| The new Muslim region will be built upon an existing autonomous territory, among the country's poorest and most violent, which includes more than 4 million people living in five provinces, two cities, 113 towns and 2,470 villages. | The new Muslim region will be built upon an existing autonomous territory, among the country's poorest and most violent, which includes more than 4 million people living in five provinces, two cities, 113 towns and 2,470 villages. |
| The Moro rebels had earlier dropped a demand for a separate Muslim state and renounced terrorism. | The Moro rebels had earlier dropped a demand for a separate Muslim state and renounced terrorism. |
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