The Philippine government and Muslim separatists have signed an agreement setting the stage for the resumption of peace negotiations after a week of informal talks in Malaysia, a spokesman for the rebels said today.

Eid Kabalu of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) told AFP by telephone from the southern Philippines that the two sides had ratified a document first released after talks in March.

"The MILF and the Philippines inked the March 2003 joint-statement," he said.