MANILA, August 4, 2008 (AFP) - The Philippine Supreme Court on Monday stopped the government from signing a land deal with Muslim separatist rebels, in yet another setback to efforts to end more than 30 years of deadly insurgency.

ZAMBOANGA, August 4, 2008 (AFP) - Thousands of people protested in the southern Philippines on Monday against a land deal that could pave the way to peace between the government and Muslim separatist guerrillas.

MANILA, August 3, 2008 (AFP) - Muslim separatist rebels in the southern Philippines said Sunday they are ready to sign a deal with the government giving them control of large swathes of land.

NICOSIA, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - UN special envoy Alexander Downer said on Tuesday that prospects of a deal to reunify Cyprus after 34 years of division are looking better now than for some time.

COLOMBO, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - The leaders of South Asian rivals India and Pakistan are to meet in Sri Lanka this week for their highest-level talks in 15 months and to see if they can hold together their embattled peace process.

LARNACA, July 27, 2008 (AFP) - Newly-appointed UN special envoy Alexander Downer arrived on Sunday for contacts with rival Cypriot leaders ahead of a September process aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.

DJIBOUTI, July 27, 2008 (AFP) - Somali Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed called for the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces in the war-riven country to boost efforts aimed at restoring stability.

DAVAO, July 27, 2008 (AFP) - Muslim separatists attacked a southern Philippines village, burning 10 houses, wounding three soldiers and causing dozens of people to flee, the military said Sunday.

TBILISI, July 26, 2008 (AFP) - Washington is urging Georgia and its rebel Abkhazia region to sit down and talk peace without preconditions to stem spiralling tensions, a senior US official said Saturday.

NICOSIA, July 26, 2008 (AFP) - The press on both sides of the Cypriot divide on Saturday voiced cautious optimism of a breakthrough in efforts to reunify the divided island after leaders set a date for full peace negotiations.