Philippine Government and rebels reach accord

The Philippine government and the country’s largest Muslim rebel group have reached a preliminary peace deal that is a major breakthrough toward ending a decades-long insurgency that killed tens of thousands and held back development in the south.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said the “framework agreement” calling for an autonomous region for minority Muslims in the predominantly Catholic nation was an assurance the Moro Islamic Liberation Front insurgents will no longer aim to secede.