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| Philippines to lift martial law | Philippines to lift martial law |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Philippines President Gloria Arroyo is lifting martial law in a southern province where 57 people were killed in political violence, aides have said. | Philippines President Gloria Arroyo is lifting martial law in a southern province where 57 people were killed in political violence, aides have said. |
| Martial law was imposed in Maguindanao a week ago to quell what the government said was a rebellion by the Ampatuan clan, blamed by police for the deaths. | Martial law was imposed in Maguindanao a week ago to quell what the government said was a rebellion by the Ampatuan clan, blamed by police for the deaths. |
| Members of a rival clan and journalists were among those killed on 23 November as they went to file election papers. | Members of a rival clan and journalists were among those killed on 23 November as they went to file election papers. |
| A senior official said the martial law edict would be lifted at 1300 GMT. | A senior official said the martial law edict would be lifted at 1300 GMT. |
| In the past week, police and military personnel have carried out a major operation against those suspected of involvement in the massacre last month. | |
| Twenty-four people have been charged with rebellion, including several figures from the Ampatuan clan. Maguindanao's governor, Andal Ampatuan Sr, was among them. | |
| His son, clan leader and local mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr, has been charged with multiple counts of murder. | |
| Large quantities of weapons and ammunition were also seized in the operation. | |
| Critics opposed the imposition of martial law, saying the massing of armed men in Maguindanao did not constitute sufficient grounds for the measure. |