Philippines, Rebel Group Sign Pact on Cease-Fire

The Philippine government and Muslim separatist rebels signed a cease-fire here Tuesday, a major step toward ending decades of fighting in the southern Philippines.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, visiting Malaysia in her first visit abroad since taking office, met Murad Ibrahim, chief of staff of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, after the pact was signed.

The agreement leaves just one Muslim group still fighting for independence from the largely Roman Catholic country: the extremist Abu Sayyaf, known for its kidnappings.

The pact was signed by Murad and Jesus Dureza, the chief government negotiator.

The deal filled in the details of a broader pact reached in June in Libya that brought the Islamic front to terms with Manila. The Moro National Liberation Front made peace in 1996 in exchange for a degree of autonomy in the southern Philippines.

“The guidelines not only silence the guns for the peace of mind of the people,” the negotiators said in a joint communique. “These also prohibit all public pronouncements that will tend to undermine the . . . credibility of both parties in waging peace.”

Representatives from the Islamic and National fronts--which signed a separate unity pact Tuesday--and the government negotiators met Arroyo and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, whose country brokered the deal.