PROFESSOR EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC), HAS SENT A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO THE PHILIPPINES. THE MISSION MANAGED TO GAIN THE APPROVAL OF THE PHILIPPINES' GOVERNMENT TO INDEFINITELY EXTEND A CEASEFIRE IN THE REGION OF MINDANAO. THE MISSION ASKED FOR A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR THE FAILURE OF THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE MORO NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (MNLF). THE MISSION ALSO ASKED FOR THE RELEASE OF THE LEADER OF THE MNLF PROF. NUR MISUARI TO ENABLE HIM TO ATTEND THE MEETING PROPOSED TO BE HELD IN JEDDAH IN JULY 2006.