MANILA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels has pulled out from joint search operations with Philippine government forces for abducted Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi, MILF and military officials said on Tuesday.

    The MILF fighters returned to their posts in Malabang and Pualas towns in Lanao del Sur province on Saturday, said Major General Ben Dolorfinjo, chairman of the military side of the joint search operations.

    MILF chief negotiator Mohaguer Iqbal confirmed that they pulled out their troops, noting that both the MILF and the Philippine Army were wary of possible misencounters since both have deployed large forces in the area.

    "There has been no location (of Bossi), so we will focus on intelligence for the meantime," Dolorfino told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

    Bossi was kidnapped on June 10 after a celebration mass at the coastal village of Bulawan in Zamboanga Sibugay province in southern Philippines.

    The Italian was the second foreigner abducted in southern Philippines within 10 days. On May 31, a German national was taken hostage by gangs but released shortly after the MILF's intervention.

    The government-MILF joint action group helps keep the ceasefire between government forces and the 11,000-strong separatist group in Mindanao. The MILF is willing to resume peace talks with the government, which was suspended one and a half years ago.