MANILA The Philippines' main Muslim separatist force has agreed to resume peace talks with the government later this month in Malaysia, a senior adviser to President Gloria Arroyo said today.

Kuala Lumpur has been acting as an intermediary and the talks could resume "within the month," said Eduardo Ermita, Arroyo's adviser o­n the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The 12,500-strong MILF has been waging a 25-year insurgency to establish an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.