Visiting Malaysian Foreign MinisterSyed Hamid Albar Friday defended the Philippines' pullout of the troops from Iraq as a "sovereign decision."

During the 5th Philippines-Malaysia Joint Consultative Meeting,Albar said that the Philippine government has "taken into account what they need to take into account" since the pullout is a sovereign decision.

Malaysia has refused to be part of the US-led coalition during the Iraqi war.

The Malaysian foreign minister also reiterated in a statement his government's appeal to the kidnappers to resolve the matter ina "human" way.

"We are saddened by the hostage taking and holding of the hostage truck driver. Malaysia has always taken the view of question on humanity, on human life," Albar said.

"On this basis of humanitarian consideration and in the name ofour religion Islam that we have appealed to the parties concerned so that it can be resolved in the most humane and bring happiness to all," he added.

Apart from the hostage crisis, the Philippines and Malaysia also vowed to pursue the peace talks between the Philippine administration and the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Albar said that the peace talks would proceed once the terms ofreference for the deployment of an international peace monitoring team to the southern islands of Mindanao, where the MILF's base lies, is finalized.

"Malaysia fully supports the initiatives of the Philippine government and the MILF to create a conducive environment for peace talks to be held between the two sides," Albar said.

On the other hand, the Philippine counterpart, Delia Albert, thanked the Malaysian government for providing assistance to the Philippines by serving as facilitator of peace talks with the MILF.

Source: Xinhua