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Captured Muslim leader Nur Misuari could face deportation only after the Christmas holidays and pending the meeting of President Arroyo with an official from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), officials said Monday.

In an interview, Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales said the government may only be able to fetch Misuari in Malaysia, where he is detained, first week of January

He said it would be better for the government to first await the results of President Arroyo's meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda, who is expected to arrive in Manila on Thursday.

Wirajuda will call on Arroyo in Malacañang and Vice President and Foreign Secretary Teofisto Guingona. He chairs the Committee of Eight of the OIC, which earlier asked the Arroyo administration to go slow on Misuari once he is deported to the country.

Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Brillantes, meanwhile, said the government is preparing for Misuari's arrest and eventual trial on rebellion charges. But he did not specify the date for Misuari's deportation, citing security reasons.

"Philippine and Malaysian authorities are communicating [regarding the arrangements for Misuari]... and the government said it is already preparing for his arrival," Brillantes said.

"Their imposed 30-day deadline has been clear and we are rushing the arrangements... but because of security reasons, we cannot discuss this at length," he added.

Both Gonzales and Brillantes failed to explain the possible complications should the government fail to fetch Misuari on or before the December 24 deadline.

The former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) fled the country last month, shortly after his followers launched a failed uprising against the 104th Infantry Battalion in Jolo, Sulu, leaving scores of people dead and injured.

Misuari and six of his followers were arrested off Sabah state on Borneo island on November 24 for entering Malaysia illegally.

Malaysia wants to deport Misuari as soon as possible and gave the Arroyo administration until the 24th, or a month after the Muslim leader's arrest, to take him. Otherwise, it said, it will be forced to allow Misuari to seek political asylum in a third country.

Earlier, President Arroyo has said that Misuari will be made the face the charges awaiting him at a Jolo, Sulu, court upon his return.

The government has also been planning where to incarcerate Misuari and discounted the use of Mindanao jails, citing security reasons. The Department of Justice has recommended Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija, where the former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was jailed during the martial law years.

Arroyo nevertheless assured Misuari's supporters that he will be treated with "dignity" considering his role in the peace process in the south, but stressed that the ex-ARMM governor will not be treated with leniency.

The Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front inked a peace pact with the government in 1996.

In a related development, Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Salamat Hashim urged the OIC to allow Misuari to explain his side in connection with the rebellion case filed against him by the government, published reports said Monday. abs-cbnNEWS.com

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