Philippines rejects Muslim rebel demands for land

The Philippine government on Wednesday rejected a rebel group's demands to expand a Muslim autonomous region without holding a referendum, a senior official said. Malaysian-brokered talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim group fighting for self-rule in the southern Philippines, hit a snag early this month over the size of a southern Philippine region that would fall under Muslim control. The MILF wants an existing Muslim autonomous region expanded without any constitutional conditions, such as a plebiscite.