(AFP) The government today urged Muslim leader Nur Misuari to end an armed revolt against the Philippines government which has left 59 people dead.

Defence Minister Najib Razak said waging war would only cause more misery for Muslims in poverty-stricken Mindanao in the southern Philippines.

"It does not serve the interest of Muslims nor the Philippines government to cast aside the peace agreement," he told a news conference.

"Time has come for us to be concerned about the welfare of the people in the south rather than continue a military conflict."

Najib said both the Philippines government and Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction should adhere to a peace agreement signed in 1996 which ended a 24-year separatist rebellion.

Fighting erupted Monday when Misuari's followers attacked several security outposts in the rebel stronghold of Jolo to prevent the holding of elections in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Misuari has served as governor of the ARMM since the signing of the peace treaty with the government of the mainly-Catholic Philippines.

Local safety concerns

Najib said Malaysia was concerned over the flare-up since the troubled region was near Sabah.

"That is the reality of today's world. Anything that happens to your neighbouring country will impinge on the interests of your country in the form of terrorists, drug trafficking and refugees."

The defence minister said there were two battalions of troops deployed in Sabah along with air and naval support to ensure security.

But he played down the threat posed by Misuari, saying he no longer had popular support.

The governments of both Malaysia and the Philippines have previously expressed concern over violent Islamic extremist groups in their territories and possible links between them.