Philippine peace talks resume
Authorities hold talks with communist rebels after gap of six years in Norway.
The Philippine government has resumed peace talks with Marxist rebels after a six-year break.
The rebels are demanding the “expeditious” release of a communist leader and four other prisoners.
Allan Jazmines, a rebel leader, was arrested on Monday, just hours before a ceasefire went into effect for the duration of the weeklong talks being held outside Oslo, Norway.
In his opening statement, Luis Jalandoni, a rebel negotiator, urged the government to release Jazmines and four other imprisoned rebel leaders.
However, he stopped short of making their release a condition for the talks.
Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas reports from Manila, on how the recent developments have cast a shadow over the talks.