Peace talks reset to February

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The stalled peace negotiations between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government have been reset to February, MILF chief negotiator Al Haj Murad Ibrahim said yesterday.

In a statement sent to The STAR, Murad said that the inability of both parties to wind up their preparation for the talks caused the delay in the resumption of the peace negotiations.

He did not, however, give specific dates for the peace talks, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but said that "all systems are in place," without elaborating on the details.

For the reopening of the talks, the MILF had originally proposed Jan. 8-9 after Secretary Norberto Gonzales met with Murad in Kuala Lumpur on the third week of October. — Bong Fabe