1.
WS plane taxiis in
2 ft

2.
MS government team off
9 ft

3.
CU Datu Manong speaking
13 ft

4.
MS Admiral Espaldon + groups to camera
15 ft

5.
MS welcoming rebel group
20 ft

6.
MS necklaces placed on rebel group
24 ft

7.
MS rebel group
29 ft

8.
MS guards at entrance to conference hall
31 ft

9.
WS state college building
33 ft

10.
WS interior college + conference room
36 ft

11.
CU flag
38 ft

12.
MS sign onto table
42 ft

13.
WS pan conference room
47 ft



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In the Southern Philippines, official talks opened yesterday (Thursday) aimed at seeking peace between the Philippines Government and the moslem rebels.

The talks, behind closed doors, followed initial meetings between Philippines officials and the Moro National Liberation Front -- the single biggest group of rebels, last January in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

Arriving in Zamboanga City on Wednesday for the talks was the government team headed by the Philippines Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Pangandaman, himself a moslem, who called on the rebels in his opening statement to bring to his government's attention anything that would contribute to reconstruction and development of the Southern Philippines. Datu Manong, Governor of the southern province of Maguindanao, is also part of the government team.

Admiral Romulo Espaldon, who set up the conference site, was on hand to meet the moslem rebel delegates to the talks. The rebels, in colourful local dress, were decked with necklaces by representatives of the Department of Tourism.

But the rebels would not make any early concessions. Most of them said they would listen to the government proposals to end several years of moslem insurgency but would make no promises.