Philippine leader gave new hope

Philippine President Benigno Aquino's secret meeting with the head of the country's main Muslim rebel group revived hopes for peace in the troubled south, an insurgent official said yesterday.
Aquino's meeting with Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Tokyo on Thursday changed the minds of rebel leaders who had become sceptical of the talks, said MILF vice-chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.
"There were members of the central committee who were doubtful about the sincerity and seriousness of the Aquino administration before the meeting," Jaafar told reporters in a telephone interview.
"But these talks were like an injection that gave new hope to the leaders for the peace talks," Jaafar said.