Defence minister Najib Razak yesterday expressed hope that aborted peace talks between the Philippines and Muslim separatists in southern Philippines will be rescheduled soon.

Najib said Malaysia, which had played the role of a mediator, was disappointed that the second round of exploratory peace talks could not take place here as planned this week.

"We hope in due course the (peace talks) can be rescheduled. I am waiting for an official response from the Philippine government as to the reasons for the postponement," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

President Gloria Arroyo o­n Tuesday called off talks in Malaysia to resolve a rebellion in the southern Philippines, giving the military free rein to punish "terrorism" committed by Moro rebels.