Armed Islamic separatist rebels belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) smile in front of the wreckage of a military truck in Ginanta village in southern Basilan island 08 October 2007. MILF guerrillas torched the truck following an ambush 10  July 2007 where 14 Philippine Marine soldiers were killed. The rebels claimed the military intruded in their territory provoking the clash. The Philippines government and MILF  have struck a deal on creating a Muslim homeland in the country's south which is expected to lead to a peace accord by middle of 2008, officials announced 15 November 2007 following talks in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement on the extent of territory to be handed over had been a major stumbling block in the peace talks that opened when a ceasefire was forged with the MILF in 2001. The MILF have been waging separatist rebellion since 1978. Getty Images logo Getty Images 28 months ago

Armed Islamic separatist rebels belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) smile in front of the wreckage of a military truck in Ginanta village in southern Basilan island 08 October 2007. MILF guerrillas torched the truck following an ambush 10 July 2007 where 14 Philippine Marine soldiers were killed. The rebels claimed the military intruded in their territory provoking the clash. The Philippines government and MILF have struck a deal on creating a Muslim homeland in the country's south which is expected to lead to a peace accord by middle of 2008, officials announced 15 November 2007 following talks in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement on the extent of territory to be handed over had been a major stumbling block in the peace talks that opened when a ceasefire was forged with the MILF in 2001. The MILF have been waging separatist rebellion since 1978.