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Suspected Muslim separatist rebels in the southern Philippines have shot dead two lumberjacks, chipping at efforts to resume formal peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Three others were wounded but escaped to report the incident and are now in hospital. Formal peace talks earlier set to resume in Malaysia this month have been temporarily suspended, as skirmishes with government forces have escalated in recent weeks. The presidential adviser on the peace process, retired general Eduardo Ermita, cautioned against blaming the MILF for the hostage incident and the latest killings, in an effort to salvage peace talks.

Muslim separatist rebels in the Philippines have finally formed a negotiating panel, seen as the last hurdle before actual peace talks could begin.Secretary Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process, confirmed Thursday that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) formed its panel a day earlier.The panel's creation follows the MILF's positive response to the Philippine government's ceasefire in February, declaring its own during March 24 preliminary talks in Kuala Lumpur.

A Philippine government delegation signed a secondary peace agreement with a key Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday. Both parties signed a manual for the cessation of hostilities, in the third round of peace talks being hosted by Malaysia between the Philippine government and the MILF. The new agreement supplements a cease-fire agreed to in August, and lays out how to conduct and implement the cease-fire. Despite the August 7 ceasefire deal, skirmishes have continued between government troops MILF rebels in the southern Philippines.

The tables may be turning on Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who have been holding hostage two Americans and a Filipino nurse for about nine months. Mayor Sakib Salajin of Maluso town, southwest of the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan in the southern Philippines, told reporters Wednesday that eight relatives of Abu Sayyaf members have been arrested. Salajin said the arrest would create pressure for the release of American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap from Abu Sayyaf hands.

;FOR ALMOST A YEAR, THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT tolerated incursions by separatist rebels in Mindanao. Having signed a peace agreement with the largest rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front, Manila hoped to win over the remaining threat, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. A more radical splinter group of the MNLF, the MILF aims to establish an Islamic state on the island. The rebel army had agreed to negotiations, but not to a ceasefire. Still, that whisper of hope led authorities to suffer some shortterm disorder in the hope of increasing chances for a lasting peace.

Fighting between government troops and two Muslim separatist groups has escalated, as the government tries to end a drawn-out hostage crisis with one and continue peace talks with the other. Philippine troops engaged Abu Sayyaf members in a gun battle Saturday, in one of five reported skirmishes in the southern Philippines the past week. Police troops raided an Abu Sayyaf safehouse in the remote southern province of Sulu, capturing a brother of Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Sabaya and three others.

Police in the Philippines are hunting members of a militant Islamic secessionist group who they say are responsible for the airport bomb that killed 21 people. Officers say the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was responsible for the bombing at Davao City International Airport in the south of the country and have ordered the arrests of senior MILF figures. Those being targeted by police include chairman Hashim Salamat, spokesman Eid Kabalu and Ghazali Jaafar and Al Haj Murad, the group's political and military chiefs.

An explosion in a public market in the southern Philippine city of Koronadal killed nine people and wounded 42 others Saturday, the military said. Col. Renoir Pascua, a spokesman for the Southern command, said earlier reports from the military of at least 12 dead proved wrong. A spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines said there has been no claim of responsibility. Col. Danilo Lucero said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim separatist group in the Philippines, "could have been involved in it, but we have no conclusion yet. " He described the bomb as an improvised explosive device.

As women, feminists, mothers to daughters and activists, we read the recent opinion piece on conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh by Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem and Robin Morgan with great anticipation. Once we had finished reading, we were left with feelings of amusement, amazement and, yes, agreement. As women, we agree with them that hate speech and sexism against women is wrong in all forms, on all playing fields. Women who enter the public arena and stand up for their beliefs should be celebrated, whether we agree with them or not. Arguing with their beliefs is one matter; using derogatory terms or hate speech is another.

Police in Indonesia have sent a team to confirm that Pakistan has arrested a top suspect in the Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people in 2002, a top Indonesian police official told CNN Wednesday. They will try to establish that the suspect in custody is Umar Patek, one of Southeast Asia's most wanted men, Indonesian National Police spokesman Anton Bahrul Alam said. The United States has offered a $1 million reward for his capture. Several news organizations reported Monday that Patek had been arrested in Pakistan on March 2. Indonesian police are coordinating with Interpol and sent a team to Pakistan to verify and confirm Patek's identity, Alam said.

Last week's bus bombing in the Philippines highlights how bomb-making techniques brought into the country by al Qaeda and its associate groups can be harnessed by multiple interests. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a symbol of al Qaeda's global strength and coordination. It triggered the unmasking of Jemaah Islamiyah or JI, which effectively functioned as Al-Qaeda's arm in Southeast Asia, co-opting homegrown groups for its attacks. What happened to Jemaah Islamiyah paralleled what happened to al Qaeda after 9/11: Their centralized command structures collapsed, and their operational capabilities were degraded by the arrests of top and mid-level leaders.

Politics is serious business -- but not all the time. From the halls of Congress to the campaign trail to the international stage, there's always something that gets a laugh or a second glance. How do you really feel? Comedian Tracy Morgan is if nothing but brutally honest. Maybe too honest. At the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Morgan weighed in on "mama grizzly" herself, Sarah Palin. "Sarah Palin, you're the hottest MILF in the world," he said to one interviewer.

One hundred more suspects -- including police officers -- could face arrest over a massacre in the Philippines, a government official said Friday after authorities charged the alleged architect of the killings. At least 57 unarmed civilians were slain Monday in Maguindanao, in the southern Philippines. Andal Ampatuan Jr. -- mayor of Datu Unsay and son of the provincial governor of Maguindanao -- faces seven counts of murder. Justice officials said they have collected sworn statements from witnesses and expect to file more charges as the investigation unfolds.

Seven soldiers were killed Friday when they were attacked by Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines, the military said. The morning attack was carried out by a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said Maj. Randolph Cabangbang. Fourteen soldiers had been deployed on a security mission after Army intelligence reports indicated that Lawless MILF Groups (LMG) were amassing in Mamasapano in the province of Maguindanao, Cabangbang said. The soldiers, aboard armored vehicles, encountered at least 50 LMG members, he said.

Separatist rebels bombed an electricity transmission tower in the southern Philippines on Saturday, according to military spokesperson Lt. Stefani Cacho. The tower supplies electricity to several towns in the region. Rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an Islamic militant group based in the Philippines, used four explosive devices but only 3 detonated, Lt. Cacho wrote in a text message to CNN. The government of the Philippines has been involved in stormy peace negotiations with MILF since 2003.

Five Filipino soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded during an overnight gun battle with a faction of a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines' southern region, a military spokesman said. The fighting in Basilan province broke out after ongoing peace negotiations with rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) hit an impasse, said Maj. Ramon Zagala. Early reports indicated the fighters were from a rogue faction of the front, but the military later identified them as members of the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the al Qaeda terrorist network, Zagala said.

Airdate: August 6th, 2005 VP: Veronica Pedrosa GA: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Block A: VP: We're in Malacanang Palace for a very special edition of TalkAsia. We're joined by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. [One minute setup piece by Veronica Pedrosa] It's been a trying two months for the embattled president. Mrs. Arroyo has faced mass demonstrations calling for her resignation. And in the political arena, opponents have filed impeachment charges. At the heart of crisis, the release of wiretapped conversations she had last year with an election official.

Airdate: January 29th, 2005 LH: Lorraine Hahn JE: Joseph Estrada BLOCK A LH: This week on TalkAsia, a former Philippine president who's fighting to prove his innocence against charges of corruption and plunder. This is TalkAsia. Welcome to TalkAsia, I'm Lorraine Hahn. This week we're joined by former Philippine president Joseph Estrada, or Erap as he's cordially known to some. After years in the public eye as a Filipino film star, Estrada decided to try his hand at a different kind of role and in 1968 became mayor of San Juan.