Britain joins group to monitor Philippine peace talks

Manila - Britain has accepted an invitation to join an international group that would monitor peace talks between the Philippine government and the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group, its ambassador said Tuesday. Britain joins Turkey and Japan, which earlier agreed to be part of the International Contact Group (ICG) for the negotiations between the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Saudi Arabia has also been invited.

"I hope the ICG will help both parties in their efforts to work for a lasting and just peace in [the southern region of] Mindanao," British Ambassador Stephen Lillie said in a statement.

Non-government organizations have also agreed to become members of the ICG, including the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, The Asia Foundation, the London-based Conciliation Resources, and the Jakarta-based Muhammadiyah.

The government and the MILF agreed on September 15 to form the ICG as part of efforts to resume peace negotiations, which have been stalled since August last year due to failure to sign a key territorial agreement.

The two sides have also agreed to oblige soldiers and rebel fighters to "refrain from intentionally targeting or attacking non-combatants" in Mindanao.

In August 2008, fighting broke out between MILF rebels and the military in several provinces of Mindanao after the government caved in to opposition and reneged on the negotiated territorial agreement.

More than 300 people were killed and more than half a million people displaced in the hostilities. Some of the refugees have returned home or moved in with relatives, but many were still in evacuation camps.