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Philippine poll attack kills 21 Philippine poll attack kills 21
(about 2 hours later)
Twenty-one politicians and journalists who were abducted in the southern Philippines have been found dead.Twenty-one politicians and journalists who were abducted in the southern Philippines have been found dead.
The group was seized on the southern island of Mindanao.The group was seized on the southern island of Mindanao.
The military said they were taken by armed men as they tried to file nomination papers for a candidate in local elections next May. The military said they had been taken by armed men as they tried to file nomination papers for a candidate in local elections next May.
Elections in the Philippines are often marred by violence, particularly in the south, where clashes connected to local rivalries and insurgencies erupt.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 nationwide elections in May 2010. Registration for local and national races began earlier this month.The country is to hold nationwide elections in May 2010. Registration for local and national races began earlier this month.
Jess Dureza, adviser to President Gloria Arroyo in the volatile Mindanao region, said it was "a gruesome massacre of civilians unequalled in recent history". Jesus Dureza, adviser to President Gloria Arroyo in the volatile Mindanao region, said it was "a gruesome massacre of civilians unequalled in recent history".
He recommended that a state of emergency be imposed in the area.He recommended that a state of emergency be imposed in the area.
In a statement, Mrs Arroyo condemned the violence and said no effort would be spared to find those responsible.
Clan leaderClan leader
"Civilised society has no place for this kind of violence," she said.
According to local reports, the group was abducted early on Monday while on its way to an election office in Maguindanao province to file nomination papers for a local mayor, Ismael Mangudadatu.According to local reports, the group was abducted early on Monday while on its way to an election office in Maguindanao province to file nomination papers for a local mayor, Ismael Mangudadatu.
Mr Mangudadatu was reportedly planning to challenge local clan leader Datu Andal Ampatuan for the governor's office in the mainly Muslim province.
He was not part of the group but his wife, lawyers, aides and journalists were among those taken when their three-vehicle convoy was hijacked.
ANALYSIS Vaudine England, former BBC reporter in the Philippines Election violence is not unusual in the Philippines but the scale of this attack is shocking. Every election period features assassinations of rivals, particularly in provincial areas where the forces of law and order are often tightly connected to local clans.ANALYSIS Vaudine England, former BBC reporter in the Philippines Election violence is not unusual in the Philippines but the scale of this attack is shocking. Every election period features assassinations of rivals, particularly in provincial areas where the forces of law and order are often tightly connected to local clans.
Every local politician has some form of personal security which, in some areas, balloons to private armies of scores or hundreds of well-armed, unregulated gunmen. In this case, the Mangudadatu and Ampatuan clans were not always at war - but the Mangudadatu family's bid to run for governor appears to have provoked a dramatic rise in tension.Every local politician has some form of personal security which, in some areas, balloons to private armies of scores or hundreds of well-armed, unregulated gunmen. In this case, the Mangudadatu and Ampatuan clans were not always at war - but the Mangudadatu family's bid to run for governor appears to have provoked a dramatic rise in tension.
It remains unclear who was responsible, but these killings are unusual for including women and journalists.It remains unclear who was responsible, but these killings are unusual for including women and journalists.
At this stage the violence does not appear to be related to the broader Muslim insurgencies in Mindanao geared toward securing more autonomy from the central government. Power and money - control over lucrative local interests - seem the most likely motives. At this stage the violence does not appear to be related to the broader Muslim insurgencies in Mindanao geared toward securing more autonomy from the central government. Power and money - control over lucrative local interests - seem the most likely motives. class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8374507.stm">Clan link to killings
Mr Mangudadatu was reportedly planning to challenge local clan leader Datu Andal Ampatuan for the governor's office in the mainly Muslim province.
He was not part of the group but his wife, lawyers, aides and journalists were among those taken when their three-vehicle convoy was hijacked.
Lt Col Romeo Brawner, a spokesman for the Philippines armed forces, told the BBC the military had recovered 21 bodies, 13 female and eight male.Lt Col Romeo Brawner, a spokesman for the Philippines armed forces, told the BBC the military had recovered 21 bodies, 13 female and eight male.
"Some of them have been mutilated - there are signs of mutilation. However there are also reports of beheading, but we have not yet received any confirmation about this," he said."Some of them have been mutilated - there are signs of mutilation. However there are also reports of beheading, but we have not yet received any confirmation about this," he said.
Mr Mangudadatu's wife was said to be among the dead. Reports said the group that set off had numbered about 30 people in total. Reports said the group that set off had numbered about 30 people in total.
Col Brawner said it appeared the violence was linked to local political tensions. Lt Col Brawner said it appeared the violence was linked to local political tensions.
"This is not the first time that we are experiencing this kind of violence related to politics or related to the elections that we're going to have next year," he said. "However, this is one of the bloodiest that we have experienced so far.""This is not the first time that we are experiencing this kind of violence related to politics or related to the elections that we're going to have next year," he said. "However, this is one of the bloodiest that we have experienced so far."
Mr Mangudadatu told the Associated Press news agency that his wife and relatives were among the dead.
He said his wife, Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, had telephoned him shortly before the group was abducted.
"She said... they were stopped by 100 uniformed armed men... then her line got cut off," he said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said 12 of the 21 killed were reporters, and called for justice for the victims.The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said 12 of the 21 killed were reporters, and called for justice for the victims.
"This is a direct challenge to our efforts to strengthen democracy in this country," AFP news agency quoted NUJP spokesman Jaime Espina as saying."This is a direct challenge to our efforts to strengthen democracy in this country," AFP news agency quoted NUJP spokesman Jaime Espina as saying.
Elections can be particularly violent in Maguindano and other parts of Mindanao island.Elections can be particularly violent in Maguindano and other parts of Mindanao island.
Both communist rebels and separatist Muslim insurgents are fighting troops there and local politics can be dominated by strongmen backed up by private militias.Both communist rebels and separatist Muslim insurgents are fighting troops there and local politics can be dominated by strongmen backed up by private militias.
Vaudine England, former BBC reporter in the Philippines, says both clans in this case are allied to Mrs Arroyo, limiting analysts' expectations of any effective response from the central government Vaudine England, former BBC reporter in the Philippines, says both clans in this case are allied to Mrs Arroyo, limiting analysts' expectations of any effective response from the central government.
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