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Philippine poll attack 'kills 21' | Philippine poll attack 'kills 21' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Twenty-one politicians and journalists abducted in the southern Philippines have been found dead, the army says. | Twenty-one politicians and journalists abducted in the southern Philippines have been found dead, the army says. |
The group were seized on the southern island of Mindanao early on Monday. | |
The military said they were taken by armed men as they tried to file a nomination for a candidate for forthcoming local polls. | |
Elections in the Philippines are often marred by violence, particularly in the south, where clashes connected to local rivalries and insurgencies erupt. | |
The country is to hold national elections in May 2010. Registration for local and national races began earlier this month. | |
'Scour the area' | |
According to local reports, those killed were on their way to an election office in Maguindanao to file papers on behalf of a candidate in the gubernatorial race. | According to local reports, those killed were on their way to an election office in Maguindanao to file papers on behalf of a candidate in the gubernatorial race. |
The military blamed armed men loyal to a rival politician for the attack. | |
"Our army troopers have reached the area where the vehicles and those held were taken... they were shot by the armed men," Maj- Gen Alfredo Cayton told local radio. | "Our army troopers have reached the area where the vehicles and those held were taken... they were shot by the armed men," Maj- Gen Alfredo Cayton told local radio. |
"We have recovered 21 bodies. Our men are continuing to scour the area to find the others." | "We have recovered 21 bodies. Our men are continuing to scour the area to find the others." |
The bodies of 13 women and eight men had been found, the military said. Reports said the group had numbered about 30 in total. | |
Among the dead was the wife of the candidate who had been planning to run, they said. | |
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