By Manny Mogato MANILA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The Philippines will not accept conditions set by communist rebels for returning to peace negotiations to end decades of conflict, the country's top defence official said on Friday. Gilberto Teodoro, who has been defence secretary for seven weeks, urged the rebels to rejoin the political mainstream before making any demands for reforms, saying the government was offering amnesty to those who were willing to lay down their weapons. On Thursday, the self-exiled leader of the communist rebels told Reuters in an interview in the Netherlands they were ready to lay down arms and resume peace talks only if the Philippine government agreed to wide-ranging reforms. "I don't think anybody outside the law can have the right to demand reforms against the government of the Philippines," Teodoro said in an interview at the main military base in Manila. "I don't think it's proper for the government to act on any demands of a person who is outside the fold of the law. If they want, they have to join the political system to work for reforms." Last week, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo offered amnesty to communist rebels, clearing them of political crimes and giving them a chance to start a new life through a 500 million peso social integration programme. The amnesty programme would be open for only six months once the two houses of Congress give their approval, Teodoro said, adding there would be no ceasefire with the rebels. He said safe conduct passes would be given to rebels who wish to apply for amnesty, but troops would continue to pursue those who did not give up opposing the government. Teodoro said the government would also not show any mercy to the Abu Sayyaf, a group of Islamic militants in the south of the country linked to al Qaeda. But he said he was confident the government was on track to signing a peace deal with the largest Muslim separatist rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and was expecting informal talks to resume in the coming weeks. "I want peace," Teodoro said. "The economy is ready to grow. I wish to continue the conditions of peace for growth to really continue."
