Philippines, Muslim rebels expand international ceasefire team

Manila - The Philippines and Muslim secessionist rebels have agreed to reconstitute and expand an international team monitoring a ceasefire agreement in the country's troubled south, a joint statement said Thursday. Peace panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said the reconstituted International Monitoring Team (IMT) would include non-governmental organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Mindanao People's Caucus.

Prior to its reconstitution, the IMT, which monitors the existing ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the government, was composed of representatives from Malaysia, Japan, Brunei and Libya.

"The parties also renewed their commitment to continue efforts in coordinating interdiction and isolation of criminal and lawless elements," the joint statement said.

Formal peace talks between the government and the MILF resumed Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur after more than a year of suspension due to the non-signing of a key territory deal, which triggered clashes that killed more than 300 people and displaced more than 500,000.

The negotiations resumed after the two sides agreed to form an International Contact Group (ICG) that would monitor the progress in the talks and the implementation of other agreements. The ICG is composed of representatives from Britain, Japan, Turkey and various non-governmental organizations.