MANILA - Muslim rebels and the Philippine government signed a peace pact yesterday ending 24 years of war in the south that killed 125,000 people.
But the Muslim rebel leader cautioned that the hard work had only just begun. More war - was inevitable if the pact failed to produce concrete benefits for the Muslims of the southern Philippines, Mr Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, said in a speech at the signing ceremony.
The crucial phase of the accord, which took four years to negotiate with the help of Islamic nations led by Indonesia, was only just beginning, he told a news conference later.
At the ceremony, Mr Misuari called for a standing ovation for Philippine President Fidel Ramos, praising his "boldness and heroism" in pushing ahead with the accord.
President Ramos has said he takes personal responsibility for the success of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development, which will be set up under the pact as a prelude to an autonomous regional government covering almost all of the main southern island of Mindanao and nearby islands.