MANILA, Sept. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Thirty-four rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have surrendered to government troops in the southern Philippines, the military said Saturday.

　　A group of 31 MILF rebels led by a commander identified as Salik Ali Abubakar surrendered to government forces in Iligan cityin the province of Lanao del Norte on Friday, Army chief Lieutenant General Gregorio Camiling said.

　　The rebels, who also turned over 25 pieces of arms, are now undergoing tactical interrogations, Camiling said.

　　Meanwhile, Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Joselito Kakilala said three MILF fighters surrendered to authorities with their firearms in Lamitan town in Basilan province on Thursday.

　　The government and the MILF are expected to resume formal peacetalks next month in Malaysia, which has been brokering peace talksbetween the two parties over the past several years.

　　The 12,000-strong MILF, the largest rebel group in the Philippines, has been fighting for an independent Islamic state inthe southern part of the country since 1978. Enditem