MILF uninterested in gov't proposal

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The senior leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said today that the anti-government group in the Philippines is not keen on accepting any changes in the wealth-sharing agreement annex proposed by the government.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front Vice Chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said, "There is a proposal from the government to change some items in the previously discussed and initialed agreement. This will be discussed by the Central Committee and the Central Committee will make a decision about this after a meeting."

"But I say this (government proposal) might not be accepted by the Central Committee, most probably the Central Committee will not accept it," Jaafar said, adding, "It was already signed, it was already initialed, why change it? It gone through discussions already."

Jaafar earlier accused the government of delaying the signing of the peace agreement after reneging on its commitment to meet with the group's negotiators immediately after the May 10 elections and for proposing changes in the wealth-sharing agreement.

Some commanders of the rebels are frustrated and angry over the delay, Jaafar said, adding that these commanders cannot wait forever in so far as the signing of the comprehensive compact agreement.

The anti-government group has been fighting government troops for decades to establish a self-rule Muslim state in the southern Philippines.

The Philippine government and the group formally signed on Oct. 15 last year the framework agreement, a road map for final political settlement to end the decades-old armed struggle in southern Philippines.