Rebel governor nabbed in Malaysia

Cause for happiness for Philippines troops comes with news of the rebel leader's arrest

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNN) -- Malaysian police have arrested renegade governor Nur Misuari who sparked fighting between his supporters and Philippines troops in which more than 100 died this week, officials say.

Misuari was taken into custody with six others as they tried to slip in to Malaysia early Saturday, national police chief Norian Mai said.

His capture comes one day after Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo asked Indonesia and Malaysia for help dealing with the former rebel leader and current governor of the southern Muslim region.

Forces loyal to Misuari attacked an army base Monday, killing four soldiers and seven civilians. About 100 rebels have been killed in fighting since then, the military said.

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The seven will be turned over to the Philippines government "as soon as possible," the national Bernama news agency quoted Norian as saying.

Misuari fled the Philippines by boat and was arrested at Jampiras, Malaysia's closest island to the Philippine border.

Misuari abandoned a 1996 peace deal which Malaysia had helped to broker, and the Philippine government accused him of trying to upset the November 26 regional elections meant to choose his successor. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said his government would not grant Misuari political asylum.

Mahathir criticized Misuari for waging war on Manila and said his government will no longer assist after helping the former rebel leader and his followers attain autonomy rule in the southern Muslim region in the Philippines.

Earlier in the week vintage warplanes pounded suspected rebel stations in the mountainous island of Jolo, 960 km (600 miles) south of Manila.

The fighting between more than 7,000 soldiers and about 600 gunmen of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) began Monday when hundreds of Muslim guerrillas broke a stormed an army outpost in Jolo.

Misuari is the former leader of the MNLF, which was disbanded after Misuari agreed to sign the 1996 peace treaty in exchange for an autonomous Islamic state in the south.