Manila's Aquino urges Congress to push ahead with Muslim autonomous region

President Benigno Aquino reads his speech through a teleprompter during a graduation ceremony of police cadets at the Philippine National Police academy in Silang, Cavite south of Manila March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Friday urged lawmakers to resume debating a proposed law on an autonomous territory in the Muslim south, in a bid to end a 45-year conflict that has killed 120,000 people.

The two-chamber Congress suspended deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that will grant self-rule to the Moro minority after 44 police commandos died in a clash with Muslim rebels on Jan. 25.