Defence minister met Tuesday with Muslim rebel leaders in the southern Philippines amid concerns Kuala Lumpur will be replaced as facilitator in the peace talks between the guerrillas and the Philippine government.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visited the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camp in the outskirts of Cotabato City, 960 kilometres south of Manila, where he met rebel chief Murad Ebrahim and other guerrilla leaders.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief peace negotiator, said that during the meeting Zahid stressed Malaysia's commitment to help in the peace process aimed at resolving the Muslim insurgency on strife-torn Mindanao Island.

Senior peace officials of the newly installed government of President Benigno Aquino III have hinted the possible replacement of Malaysia as facilitator.

Prior to meeting the MILF leaders, Zahid visited the headquarters of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team that monitors the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and the guerrillas.

Zahid, along with 17 other other Malaysian defence officials, arrived early morning at the Cotabato airport aboard a Royal

Malaysian Air Force plane.

The meeting with Muslim rebel leaders concluded the two-day visit of Zahid to the Philippines, where he also met with his Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in Manila.

- dpa