The World : New Philippine Cease-Fire

Philippine Muslim rebels and regional military officials said they called a cease-fire in five southern provinces pending negotiations on autonomy for the nation’s minority Muslim population. Macapanton Abbas, a leader of the one of three factions of the Moro National Liberation Front, has set up a committee with the region’s military commander, Brig. Gen. Jose Magno, to enforce the cease-fire. Abbas negotiated a similar cease-fire early last week with another regional command covering five other provinces on Mindanao island.