Low turnout mars Philippines vote

Votes are being counted in the southern Philippines after a low turnout in a poll to decide whether to extend Muslim self-rule.

There have been no immediate reports of violence despite authorities' fears that militant Muslims might try to disrupt the process.

The electorate, in traditionally Muslim areas were asked if they wanted to be part of an autonomous region for the Muslim minority that lives in the South of this mainly Christian country.

President Arroyo asked voters to give self-rule a chance

The plebiscite is the result of a peace agreement signed five years ago by the government and the Muslim rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Officials estimated the voter turnout to have been about 50%. They attributed the relatively low figure to fears of violence and to heavy rain and floods, in which several people were killed.

'No' vote likely

Filipinos from 11 provinces and 14 cities on the islands of Mindanao and Palawan were being asked if they wanted to join the four-province Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which was set up in 1996.

These have traditionally been Muslim areas but the majority of the population is now made up of Christian settlers and their descendants.

The government hopes the vote will help end three decades of fighting

"We will send our message through two letters: N-O," said one woman in the mainly Christian city of Zamboanga.

Another resident, a man, said: "It's a 'no' vote for us."

Analysts said perhaps only one province and two cities would vote to join the ARMM, whose inhabitants are among the poorest in the country.

Our correspondent in Manila says militant Muslims will probably interpret the rejection of autonomy in most areas as a sign that they should continue to press for complete independence, with the danger they will take their campaign back to the battlefield.

The official result is expected by Friday.

Peace talks

The 1996 peace agreement signed by the government and the largest separatist group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was intended to end more than three decades of secessionist rebellion by militant Muslims.

It failed to do so mainly because it did not include another guerrilla group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The MILF has since begun peace talks and there is now a ceasefire.

Even so, thousands of police and troops were deployed for this plebiscite in case of attempts to disrupt the voting by either the MILFF, by disgruntled members of the MNLF or by a third guerrilla group, the Abu Sayyaf. There were no immediate reports of violence.

The government refuses to talk peace with the Abu Sayyaf, which it regards as gang carrying out kidnappings for ransom.