The President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte said he is scrapping peace talks with communist rebels due to take place later this month, BBC informs. 

Mr Duterte said he is abandoning discussions in Norway with the New People's Army (NPA) and is instructing his negotiators to return home.

He said that demands by communist rebels for the release of 400 prisoners were excessive.

The news follows the end of a six-month ceasefire between the two sides.

"I'm not ready to resume [peace talks]," Mr Duterte said, adding that he would "request the Philippine contingent to fold their tents and to come home".

"I tried everything," he added. "I walked the extra mile, released prisoners, released their leaders so they can go to Oslo to talk."