Rebels welcome probe of clash in S. Philippines

Mohaqher Iqbal said Malaysia has agreed to allow an international team monitoring a 2003 cease-fire agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to visit Basilan Island to investigate the circumstances, causes and consequences of

the clash.

''This is a very good development,'' Iqbal told Kyodo News in a telephone interview.

Iqbal said that the international monitoring team, a 60-strong group that monitors the truce agreement, is a credible team. He said the team will determine which side violated the truce

agreement and the exact number of soldiers and rebels killed.

''Whatever the findings of the investigative team, they will be easily accepted by both sides,'' he said.

It was not clear when the team will actually visit Basilan Island, the site of the July 10 clash. Iqbal said the guidelines on how to go about the fact-finding investigation have yet to be drafted. Iqbal added that the head of the monitoring team, Maj. Gen. Ishmael Khan of the Malaysian armed forces, is still in Malaysia.

The latest development comes as the Philippine military prepares the deployment of yet another marine battalion on the island to augment troops hunting down the MILF rebels.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters the deployment is in anticipation of a ''bigger rebel group'' to fight the government troops in the wake of last week's clash.

The soldiers who were killed were part of the contingent searching for kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi, who was snatched in southern Zamboanga Sibugay Province on June 10.

The military claimed Bossi is now being hidden on Basilan Island, also the hideout of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

The MILF has admitted staging the attacks but has stressed they were forced to do so after the troops entered their territory without any permit.

     Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the military will launch a full military offensive to hunt down the rebels who staged the attack.

The decades-long insurgency has left more than 120,000 dead and over 300,000 people displaced.

The peace negotiation was temporarily suspended in May after the government cancelled a scheduled meeting in Kuala Lumpur. 

''There were several hitches after the May scheduled (meeting) so we do not know yet when the next talks will take place,'' Iqbal said, voicing hope that the talks resume soon.//Kyodo News