The Philippine separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rejected on Saturday an appeal for "Jihad (Holy War)" made five years ago by a suspect of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, reported the Philippine News Agency.

"Mind your own business. We have our own plans and programs. No one can dictate us what to do," the news agency quoted MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu as saying in an interview in Cotabato City, southern Philippines.

Kabalu was referring to the "Jihad" call by Wael al-Shihr who was called "one of the martyrs of Manhattan Raid" by the Al Qaeda terror group for his participation in the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

"Shihr's call is an individual opinion, but as I said we have our own plans ... we set our own guidelines without influence from other people," he added.

A video shown by al-Jazeera television on Thursday to mark the 5th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks showed al-Shihr reading his "will" along with a fellow suspect.

The local daily the Philippines Star said the video bolstered intelligence reports of al Qaeda's links with the Abu Sayyaf rebel group in the Philippines.

The MILF spokesman said the MILF Central Committee itself is not entertaining the call as the MILF rejects terror activities.

"The MILF, as a rebel group, has its cause for rebellion and that is for the self determination of the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao," he said. Bangsamoro people are referred to the Muslim population in Mindanao.

MILF political affairs chief Ghadzali Jaafar echoed the same view, saying the Al Qaida's call "is not binding upon us," according to the Philippine News Agency.

"The MILF can declare what kind of war we are waging here in Mindanao. But as far as the leadership of the front is concerned, our struggle is focused only for the good of the Bangsamoro people, " he said.

The MILF has been holding talks with the Philippine government to settle their decades-long conflict. The talks were stalled this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia due to differences over ancestral land disputes in Mindanao.

Source: Xinhua