MANILA, Nov 28 (Reuter) - The Philippines declared on Thursday a unilateral 60-day ceasefire in its war with communist rebels and Moslem separatists in the spirit of the coming Christmas season, the presidential palace said.
The suspension of all military operations against the Marxist New People's Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will take effect from December 1 until January 29, President Fidel Ramos said in his order.
With the ceasefire, the longest ever declared by Manila against insurgents, rebels are guaranteed safe conduct to allow them to visit their families as long as they do not carry guns, officials said.
The NPA, the military arm of the local Communist Party, is fighting for a Marxist government while the MILF is demanding an Islamic state.
The government has been holding peace talks with the leftist guerrillas and is seeking similar negotiations with the MILF.
Manila last month signed a peace deal with the mainstream Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which ended a 24-year, MNLF-led revolt for Moslem autonomy in the southern islands.
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