(UPDATE) Bombings 'desperate act' by groups against peace talks: Aquino

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno S. Aquino III said today the recent spate of bombings in southern Philippines was a "desperate act" by a small sector against the attainment of a lasting peace in Mindanao.

Aquino alleged the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), were behind the bombings.

"Make no mistake about it: This is a desperate act by a small sector dead set against the attainment of peace in Mindanao," Aquino said in a speech delivered at the 22nd Mindanao Business Conference.

"To those willing to partner with us for peace, we welcome you as brothers; but to those who want to challenge the authority of the state, you will feel the full brunt, depth, and might of the state's response. You will not get in the way of the peace and the stability that will help fulfill the potential of Mindanao," he said.

He said that these "threat groups" apparently joined together as they were "desperate" to derail the peace process in Mindanao.

The peace negotiation between the Philippine government and the MILF, the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, has been moving forward following last October'shistoric signing of a framework agreement on the Bangsamoro, a road map that will end the four-decade armed conflict in southern Philippines.

At least five explosions rocked Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, and Maguindanao for the past weeks, leaving at least 17 people dead and several others wounded.

The BIFF, which has been opposing the peace process between the government and the MILF, claimed responsibility in one of the attacks in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao where seven soldiers were wounded.