Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has announced a three-week unilateral ceasefire with the country's communist rebels.
Ms. Arroyo says the ceasefire will begin December 16 and end on January 5. The rebel New People's Army has not said if it will call a similar ceasefire. Last year both sides observed a Christmas truce.
The New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines and has waged a 35-year insurgency against the government. The United States has declared the rebel group a terrorist organization.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
