MANILA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Peace talks between the Philippines' main armed communist group and the government are unlikely to take place this week, officials said on Monday, after the rebels insisted on the release of detained colleagues as a pre-condition. The New People's Army, the country's main communist armed group, was scheduled to resume talks, stalled since 2004, in Oslo to seek an end to a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people. But the rebels said Manila had failed to honour a promise made in June to free 14 top leaders and give legal immunity to nearly 100 rebels some of whom will act as consultants in the negotiations."The government is in zero compliance and in clear violation of the ... agreement," said Fidel Agcaoili, spokesman of the rebels's political arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF), The government has freed four top cadres of the Maoist-led NPA, but communist leaders want the others to be released also. Manila said it committed to release only four leaders, not 14. "It looks like we cannot do it on Friday because of lack of time," Avelino Razon, the government's peace adviser, told Reuters regarding the restart of talks. "But we're still hopeful we can push through with it at a delayed schedule." Anthony Golez, a presidential spokesman, said any delay in talks would be a "temporary setback." He added the government cannot give in to the rebels' demand because constitutional and legal processes needed to be followed in dealing with jailed rebel leaders facing criminal cases. The 4,000-member NPA, which is active in nearly 90 percent of the country's 80 provinces, has been waging a protracted guerrilla warfare to overthrow the democratically elected government. Agcaoili said his group was prepared to hold off talks until next year when a new government will take office following presidential elections. (Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by Rosemarie Francisco)
Retrenched workers of an undergarment factory operated by Triumph International Philippines throw underwear into the air during a rally outside the office of the European Union in Manila's Makati financial district ...
