CYBERJAYA, Malaysia (Islamweb & News Agencies) - The Philippines' two main Muslim Resistance groups, which for years waged independent liberation wars against Manila, initialed a unity agreement on Friday after decades of estrangement. (Read photo caption below).
One group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), has already struck a peace deal with the Philippine government while the other, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is in talks with Manila on a separate peace agreement.
``This will be the beginning of a new era for the Moro people,'' Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak said after witnessing the signing ceremony held 30 miles south of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Agreement was reached after two days of talks.
Predominantly Muslim Malaysia is brokering two sets of talks involving Philippine Muslim Resistance groups, one tackling MILF-MNLF unity issues and the other involving the MILF and the Philippine government.
MILF chief negotiator Murad Ebrahim said his side and the MNLF would formally sign the unity agreement on August 7, when Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visits Malaysia.
``I'm very optimistic about this. We started as one and maybe we will be ending as one,'' Ebrahim said.
The MNLF and the MILF each represent the five million Muslim minority in the largely Roman Catholic Philippines.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Vice Chairman of Philippines' Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Hatimil Hassan (L) shakes hands with his counterpart of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Murad Ibrahim, as Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Razak (C) applauds in Cyberjaya, 50 kms (30 miles) south of Kuala Lumpur, August 3, 2001. The Philippines' two main Muslim Resistance groups, which for years waged independent separatist wars against Manila, initialed a unity agreement on Friday after decades of estrangement. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad
- Aug 03 1:24 AM ET