Philippines supreme Court halts Muslim land deal

By Manny Mogato

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on Monday to halt a territorial deal between the government and Muslim separatists, the latest setback for peace in the nation's volatile south.

The agreement between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim rebel group, was to be signed in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday after more than 10 years of stop-start talks.

Catholic politicians in the south had asked the Supreme Court to halt the signing ceremony, arguing they had not been consulted on the deal. They fear it will carve up the southern island of Mindanao into Muslim enclaves.

Manila, whose commitment to a permanent political solution for the south has sometimes been questioned, said it welcomed the court's move.

"I feel this is a relief," said Jesus Dureza, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's spokesman. "It's a good opportunity for some issues to be thrashed out."

Malaysia, which has been brokering the talks between the two sides, expressed regret over the move.

"It's a big disappointment," said a Malaysian government source familiar with the talks. "I pity the people in Mindanao."

Philippine Foreign Minister Alberto Romulo, who was due to witness the signing, flew into Kuala Lumpur as scheduled.