MANILA: The Philippines government and the country's largest Muslim rebel group in the south, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have agreed to the framework for a peace deal that should be inked by mid-October, President Benigno Aquino said. It comes as the two sides have been in long negotiations, the most recent of which taking place in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, in an effort to end the 40-year conflict that has seen over 120,000 people killed. Under the new agreement, which is expected to be formally signed on October 15 in Manila, the southern region will be an autonomous zone for the Muslim majority. Philippines is predominantly Catholic. The MILF is “very happy” with the deal, a spokesman was quoted as saying. “This framework agreement paves the way for a final and enduring peace in Mindanao,” President Aquino said in a speech to announce the deal, referring to the main southern region. But he added: “The work does not end here. There are still details that both sides must hammer out.”
