Philippines Cotabato, Philippines, April 12, SPA -- Malaysia's foreign minister on Tuesday expressed hope that peace talks between Muslim rebels and Manila will stabilize the region. Syed Hamid Albar flew to southern Cotabato city to visit60 cease-fire monitors from Malaysia and Brunei who havebeen observing a two-year truce between the separatist MoroIslamic Liberation Front and government forces. The two sides are to meet next week in Kuala Lumpur toresume talks aimed at ending a three-decade-longinsurgency. Albar told reporters in Cebu, where he attended a retreatof Association of Southeast Asian foreign ministers, thatthe situation has improved and there are fewer clashes inthe southern Philippines. "We are working not only for the signing of the peaceagreement, but for practical, lasting and durable peace,"he said.--SPA1247 Local Time 0947 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/254039