(AFP) - updated version

Malaysia is to deport Muslim rebel chieftain Nur Misuari shortly under a schedule agreed upon by Kuala Lumpur and Manila, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said today.

"We're already preparing in the Philippines where to put him, how to arrest him, what charges to file. So we will be ready for Misuari at a mutually agreed upon period, which will not be long from now," Arroyo told a news conference in Manila.

Earlier, both the governments said that Philippine officials have asked Malaysia to let a Filipino diplomat visit Misuari.

The visit would be the first public step taken by both countries in determining the fate of the guerrilla leader-turned governor, who had fled to Sabah last month after mounting a failed armed revolt in the southern Philippines that left more than 150 people dead.

Filipino ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Jose Brillantes "has a standing request" to visit Misuari, who was arrested for illegal entry on November 24, foreign department spokesman Victoriano Lecaros said on government television here.

The request "will be considered by the Malaysian authorities, and normally we do grant visits by the embassy representatives," Malaysia's ambassador-designate to Manila Mohamad Taufik told reporters.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the detention of Misuari had put his government in a tight spot and feared his prolonged detention could sour ties with Manila.

Legal matters

But Eduardo Ermita, a senior aide to President Gloria Arroyo said that Manila and Kuala Lumpur had reached an understanding over the Misuari case.

Manila would take back Misuari once all legal procedures have been completed, he said without elaborating.

The Philippines, Ermita said, was initially reluctant to let Misuari return as it might have disrupted regional elections held on November 26 to choose Misuari's replacement.

Misuari, who was installed as governor of a Muslim autonomous area as part of a peace accord in 1996, mounted the short-lived rebellion to stop the holding of elections.

Ermita said that Manila at first also feared that Misuari could have served as a "rallying point" for his supporters who had briefly taken about 113 people hostage in the southern city of Zamboanga.

The hostages were eventually released in return for safe passage for the rebels.

"The government is readying to accept him (Misuari) if that is what is required," said Ermita, who advises Arroyo on peace negotiations with Muslim separatists and communist guerrillas.

"What we are asking our ambassador to Malaysia, Jose Brillantes, is if they have really completed all the requirements that are needed by the Malaysian government and that is when we will prepare for the takeover," Ermita said in a radio interview.

Charges filed

Manila has filed rebellion and sedition charges against Misuari and canceled his passport.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said in a separate radio interview that "our diplomatic channels are open" for discussions on Misuari's return.

"We are coming up with a very good solution," he said, adding: "We just want to make sure that Malaysia has finished its investigation (of Misuari.)"

Golez said that Kuala Lumpur was looking into allegations that Misuari was also involved in a high-profile kidnapping case off Malaysia last year.