Philippines in Muslim homeland deal

Accord on demarcating self-governed territory follows talks with separatist group.

philippines manila MILF
Violence has swept southern Philippines since the late sixties [EPA]
The government and MILF have been in talks for a decade about a self-governed territory for Muslims in the largely Catholic country – in hopes of ending a brutal 40-year-old conflict.
 
Disagreements over the size and wealth of the proposed territory had delayed talks for over a year and were a major stumbling block to an eventual permanent peace deal.
 
“It’s definitely very good news,” Jesus Dureza, a presidential adviser, said.
 
Bloody conflict
 
He added that the two sides hoped to sign a formal agreement early next year before moving onto what sort of government the homeland will have.
 
The two sides have previously signed two agreements on security and  rehabilitation in conflict-affected areas.
 
Muslims in the south of the Philippines have been fighting for their own territory for decades.
 
The conflict has killed more than 120,000 people and displaced at least 2 million since the late 1960s.
Source: News Agencies