Manila - Peace talks between the Philippine government and Muslim separatist rebels have hit a new snag just one week after the two sides announced a breakthrough in a contentious issue that has stalled the talks for months, officials said Saturday.

The negotiating panels for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government held an informal meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and Friday to finalize an agreement on the ancestral domain issue.

The ancestral domain issue, which centers on the creation of a proposed Muslim homeland in the southern region of Mindanao, including territorial scope and governance, has stalled the talks since December 2007.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the meeting failed after the government backtracked on some commitments it made last week, when the two sides reached consensus on key points, including jurisdiction of the Muslim homeland and control of natural resources.

"It is the government's fault," he said. "The MILF cannot be blamed for this."

The proposed homeland would expand an existing autonomous Muslim region in Mindanao.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that despite the latest snag, the peace talks were "a continuing effort."

"There remain some differences," he said. "Although the meeting did not immediately bring about progress in the ancestral domain issue, I am sure that the parties will continue to look for ways to hurdle the difficulties and move the process forward."

The MILF has been fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao since 1978.

The breakthrough in the negotiations was reached amid fears of escalating hostilities between the military and the MILF in Mindanao, where sporadic fighting has erupted between the two forces since last month despite a 2003 ceasefire. (dpa)