MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Muslim separatist rebels withdrew from a southern Philippine village and allowed about 1,000 Christian farmers to return after tensions flared over a land dispute, a military official said Monday.
The standoff in the coastal village of Sangay highlighted the fragile situation in the southern Philippines, where mediator Malaysia announced it was pulling out cease-fire monitors amid a lack of progress in settling a decades-long Muslim insurgency.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas entered the village in Sultan Kudarat province last Wednesday demanding food, confiscating rice and sending Christian residents fleeing, Mayor Rolando Garcia said.
Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said the occupation occurred because of competing claims to the land, but the action had not been approved by rebel leaders.
About 300 rebels withdrew over the weekend following talks with the provincial government, said Col. Danilo Garcia, a regional military commander.
"It's all about a land conflict," he said, adding the rebels claimed that Christian settlers had no right to be there.
It was not clear how the dispute was resolved, but such incidents have fueled the struggle of minority Muslims for self-rule.
The government and the rebels signed a 2003 cease-fire, monitored by a Malaysian-led contingent of 60 observers, while the two sides engaged in talks facilitated by Malaysia.
But last month, Malaysian officials announced they would start pulling out the monitors later this week because the talks were going nowhere.
Malaysian mediator Othman Abdul Razak criticized the Manila government for harping on technical issues. Philippine officials have denied that and expressed disappointment at the statement.
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