Philippine government negotiators Jesus Dureza (L) and Silvestre Bello sign an indefinite ceasefire agreement with communist rebels at a meeting in Oslo, Norway, August 26, 2016. REUTERS/Alister Doyle

MANILA, Philippines — While the government and the National Democratic Front both declared unilateral ceasefires, there were no common terms or conditions for its implementation.

Oslo (Reuters) — The Philippines government and Maoist-led rebels agreed indefinite ceasefires on Friday as part of an accord to accelerate efforts to end a conflict that has lasted almost five decades and killed at least 40,000 people.

The government expressed hopes that a peace agreement could be reached within a year after the Oslo talks, the first formal meeting for five years. The guerrillas, who reiterated demands for "revolutionary change," stopped short of setting a deadline.

OSLO, Norway, Aug. 23 —The Philippine government (GPH) on August 22, resumed its formal negotiations to seek peace with the National Democratic Front (NDF), seeking to forge a political settlement anchored on sweeping social, economic, and political reforms that were deemed crucial in ending Asia's longest running insurgency.

 

The Philippine government and communist guerrillas have agreed to ceasefires from Sunday, both sides said, ahead of crucial peace talks next week to end one of Asia's longest insurgencies.

Both sides said a break from the fighting will create a conducive environment at the negotiations next week in Norway, which are aimed at reaching a political settlement after 30 years of failed talks.