Malaysia Will Continue Brokering Philippine MILF Talks with Rebels

Sent 19 more peacekeepers to southern Philippines

The Malaysian government has remained a peace broker between the Philippine government and a former secessionist Filipino rebel group, which will soon hold their next meeting in Kuala Lumpur, government and rebel sources said.

Malaysia will continue to broker peace efforts between the Philippine government and the 35-year-old Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite the occupation of a Malaysian village by a Filipino Muslim prince and his followers to push for his family's historical claim over Sabah, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview. The clashes have resulted in the death of 60 people and soured ties between Malaysia and the Philippines.