Philippine rebels accept peace talks offer

The largest Muslim separatist group in the Philippines, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, says it has accepted a government offer to resume peace talks.

The group said in statement read over its radio station that the decision was unconditional and that the two sides would meet on the thirtieth of May.

It broke off contacts with the government last month after a government offensive against the separatist troops from their positions in the southern island of Mindanao.

Fighting between the rebels and the government troops erupted in january.

Correspondents say the fighting was the worst the region had seen in recent years.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service