Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday visited the southern Philippines, where a Malaysian-led team is monitoring a ceasefire between government troops and Moslem separatist rebels. Najib, who is also defense minister, checked on the Malaysian ceasefire monitors based in Cotabato City, 960 kilometers south of Manila, and celebrated with them the end of the holy month of Ramadan. He also held discussions with such Philippine officials as Vice President Noli de Castro, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz. "We hope that the peace process in the southern Philippines could already move forward," Najib told reporters. He said he expects the international monitoring team, composed of 60 Malaysians and 10 Brunei nationals, to "work very hard" to ensure that the ceasefire between the government and the MILF holds during peace negotiations. Malaysia has agreed to host formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), although no date has yet been set. The ceasefire monitors arrived in the southern Philippines last month.
