Manila - The Philippines on Wednesday dispatched a three-member team to mediator Malaysia to explain the collapse of peace talks with Muslim secessionist rebels in the southern region of Mindanao.

Secretary Jesus Dureza said the team, headed by presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon, would explain the official status of the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Malaysia has been brokering the peace negotiations between the 12,000-strong MILF and the Philippine government, which started in 1997.

"I think the main purpose of the group that would meet with the Malaysians would be first to thank them for their strong and long support to our peace process in Mindanao," Dureza said. "I think the second mission is to inform them of the present status of talks."

Large-scale clashes between the MILF and government forces erupted in August after the Supreme Court stopped the signing of a territorial deal that would have expanded an autonomous Muslim region in Mindanao.

Two senior MILF commanders led hundreds of their followers in attacking towns and occupying villages in several provinces in the strife-torn region that resulted in the killing of nearly 200 people and the displacement of more than 500,000.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has dissolved the government negotiating team and on Tuesday ruled out resuming stalled peace talks with the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group amid escalating violence in the troubled southern region.

While stressing that her government remains committed to the peace process, Arroyo said she could not tolerate the attacks launched by violent elements within the MILF. (dpa)