MANILA - Foreign peacekeepers led by Malaysia will be deployed in the southern Philippines to make sure fighting does not break out during upcoming peace talks between the government and Muslim rebels, a statement said Sunday.

The measure was among a number agreed by government and rebel representatives ahead of formal negotiations in Malaysia later this month, the joint statement said.

The representatives from both sides met in the southern city of Davao on Saturday and reported there had been no major flare-up of violence since the truce was signed in July.

Both parties also agreed to "expedite the judicial process of the lifting of warrants of arrests" for key members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) over a spate of bombings in the south early this year.

Close coordination has resulted in a "generally peaceful" situation ahead of the resumption of peace talks, expected within a month in Malaysia.

The military also agreed to redeploy forces from a former MILF stronghold to allow negotiations to proceed, it said.

Preserving ceasefire

The Philippines and the MILF "are jointly exerting the best of their efforts to pursue the success of the peace process ... by vigorously keeping the peace and preserving the ceasefire," the statement said.

The 12,500-strong MILF has been waging a separatist rebellion in the south since 1978, and the peace talks are expected to find a political solution to their insurgency.

President Gloria Arroyo earlier this year suspended talks with the MILF amid a spate of bombings. The MILF later swore to cut off links with international terrorist organisations including Jemaah Islamiyah, paving the way for the ceasefire accord in July.

Both sides are preparing to resume formal negotiations in Malaysia, a member of the influential Organization of Islamic Conference that has been helping to broker a peace agreement. - AFP