Philippine governor offers olive branch

There is a heavy army presence in the south

The new governor of a troubled Muslim region in the southern Philippines has called for peace.

Parouk Hussin was declared governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Tuesday after winning elections last week.

Mr Hussin was a member of the former rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which signed a peace agreement with Manila in 1996.

He replaces the renegade governor, Nur Misuari, who has been detained in Malaysia after illegally entering the country following a failed revolt.

More than 100 people have been killed in the last two weeks in clashes between the army and MNLF factions loyal to Mr Misuari on the island of Jolo and the city of Zamboanga.

Talks offer

Mr Hussin called for rebels to lay down their weapons and said he would seek a dialogue with followers of Mr Misuari.

To me there is no challenge from Misuari

Parouk Hussein

"The biggest challenge is peace and order because we cannot [implement] development unless we address the deterioration of peace and order," he said.

The ARMM would hold talks, he said, "not only with the renegade MNLF but other radical forces in the area".

"To me there is no challenge from Misuari," he said. "There has never been any quarrel or split (between) us. It just so happens that some brothers, like brother Misuari, are not happy to leave their position."

Rebel figurehead

The MNLF launched a long, secessionist war in the southern Philippines in the 1970s. In 1996, their then leader Mr Misuari signed a peace agreement, which set up the autonomous region with himself as governor.

Authorities fear Nur Misuari could act as a rallying point for disaffected Muslims

But earlier this year, after performing poorly in office, the MNLF dropped Mr Misuari as their leader.

After the failure of his uprising, Mr Misuari fled to Malaysia.

The Malaysian authorities have said they consider Mr Misuari a potential security threat and would like the Philippines to take him from their country as soon as possible. But Philippines officials say they would prefer him to be kept in Malaysia for now.

They have spoken of fears that he could become a rallying point for disaffected Muslims in the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines.