Manila (dpa) – The Philippines' largest Muslim separatist rebel group said Thursday it had suspended three commanders involved in a clash in October that killed 19 government troops and five guerrillas. Mohagher Iqbal, chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the commanders were suspended for three months starting February 11 for violating a 2004 ceasefire with the government. An international team monitoring the ceasefire concluded that both the MILF and the military committed violations in the firefight in Albarka town in Basilan province, 900 kilometers south of Manila, on October 18 when troops attempted to arrest a rebel commander. The military has relieved four army officers involved in the firefight of their command and filed court martial charges against them. The MILF has been fighting for an independent Islamic state since 1978. It entered into peace talks with the government in 1997, and both sides have expressed hope that a pact could be reached under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/hgvfK Tags: MILF, Muslim, Philippines, Rebels Section: East Asia, Latest News
