Philippine govt and rebel negotiators issue joint plea for ceasefire

Working together: (From left) Mohagher Iqbal, Malaysian facilitator Tengku Abdul Ghafar Tengku Mohamed and Coronel-Ferrer addressing a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur. — EPA

KUALA LUMPUR: Philippine government and Muslim rebel negotiators issued a joint plea for the country to stick to a historic peace accord that is now in peril after a deadly clash spurred calls for retribution against the guerrillas.

Both sides told a press briefing in Kuala Lumpur that two days of talks in Malaysia on disarming the rebels had made progress, and they vowed not to waver in implementing an accord on the voluntary surrender of weapons.