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The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) hope to sign a peace deal by April of next year to end a four decade-long conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. [Othman Bin Abdul Razak, Malaysian Government Mediator]: "We are trying our best to achieve this comprehensive compact to sign the function, probably at the end of the first quarter of next year, around March or early April." A mediator confirmed on Wednesday that both sides are willing to work together, and have allowed international intervention to crack down on militants in rebel areas. Talks between both parties were mediated in Malaysias Kuala Lumpur. The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have been talking on-and-off for 12 years to end the conflict in the southern Philippines. Besides the killings, the conflict has displaced two million people and scared off potential investors in a region that is believed to be sitting on huge oil and gas deposits.