The Philippine government and a Muslim separatist group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Dec. 8 resumed peace talks that collapsed 16 months ago, making efforts to end a decades-long rebellion that has claimed at least 120,000 lives.

The chief Philippine government representative said that negotiators from both sides began a two-day round of Malaysian-brokered talks on Dec. 8 at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia 's main city.

In an informal meeting in September, negotiators agreed to set up an International Contact Group (ICG) to help the two sides
``maintain a level of comfort that restores mutual trust'' and
ensure compliance in any future agreement.

The ICG will initially comprise Britain , Japan and Turkey , and several international non-governmental groups involved in promoting peace and development in conflict-affected areas.

The Dec. 8 talks was also attended by diplomats from Britain and Japan .

The MILF has been fighting for Muslim self-rule for decades in Mindanao, the southern homeland of minority Muslims in the largely Roman Catholic Philippines .

Negotiations with the rebels fell apart in August last year when the Philippine Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a preliminary accord on an expanded Muslim autonomous region./.