MANILA, Philippines – After clearing the last hurdle in 18 years of negotiations, the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said Sunday (January 26th) they hoped to soon sign a final peace deal to end decades of insurgency, AFP reported.

A "comprehensive agreement" should be signed in February or March, Manila's chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said.

Both sides agreed on a "normalisation" deal Saturday detailing how the rebels will hand over weapons, and creation of a security force to police a pending self-ruled Muslim region.

The MILF repeatedly warned it would not lay down its arms unless other threat groups in the south were disarmed. The military attacked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) guerrillas Monday in an attempt to arrest about 25 leaders.

Ferrer said that to thwart any possible armed challenges, a joint security group composed of MILF fighters and government forces would be deployed.