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MANILA — An influential bloc of Islamic nations called on the Philippine government and Muslim rebels Thursday to end clashes it said put half a million civilians at risk and aided extremists who seek to destroy the fragile peace process.

The government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front should resume peace talks and end the clashes that erupted in August after the Supreme Court scrapped a preliminary peace deal, said Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

In an appeal on the bloc’s Web site, he said the fighting in the troubled southern island of Mindanao “empowers undisciplined elements who seek to abort the peace process and fuel extremist feelings.”

More than 100 civilians have been killed and about half a million driven from their homes since three rebel commanders went on a bloody rampage in several Christian communities in August, prompting an offensive by government troops.

The rebels blamed the government for jeopardizing 11 years of tough negotiations when the Supreme Court stopped the signing of an accord granting minority Muslims an expanded homeland. The court declared the agreement unconstitutional and said it could lead to the partition of the country.

The violence led Arroyo to indefinitely suspend talks with the rebel group.

Ihsanoglu called on both sides to “work out creative solutions,” and promised to mobilize resources from OIC affiliated institutions to alleviate the suffering of civilians.

Speaking at a U.N. interfaith conference in New York, Arroyo said Wednesday that stability and order must be established before peace talks can resume.

She said “responsible elements” must regain control of the rebel group.

“The historic divide between Christians and Muslims in our country is narrowing dramatically,” Arroyo said.

“This is in no small part due to our focus on interfaith dialogue and a willingness to accept the sincerity of those who differ with us in faith.”

Rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu said the rebels remain ready to talk if the government will honor the accord on a Muslim homeland that both sides had initialed. He added that the Islamic organization should direct its appeal to the government, which disbanded its negotiating panel in September.

“Our door is still open,” Kabalu said.

The Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic, and Muslims make up about 5 percent of its 90 million people. (AP)

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