Philippine government negotiators have asked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for more time to offer a new proposal on the issue of southern autonomous territory in peace talks, a leading separatist negotiator said Sunday.

The government wanted a period of time until Oct. 30 to come up with the new proposal to resolve the controversial issue, according to Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, who made his remarks on the MILF official website, luwaran.com. The request was made in a letter dated Sept. 27 from government panel member Silvestre Afable Jr., Mantawil added.

"The MILF has not yet replied to the letter pending consultation with the Malaysian Secretariat, " Mantawil said.

However, Mantawil said that both the Malaysian Secretariat, who brokered the peace talks, and MILF "will most likely agree to the extension."

Peace talks between the government and the MILF had been stalled since two months ago because of the controversy over the future autonomous territory in Mindanao and other southern islands.

Reports said that both parties have a gentlemen's agreement for the government not to raise the issue of "territorial integrity" or "sovereignty," and for the MILF not to bring in its demand for "independence" in the course of their negotiations.

Source: Xinhua