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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Philippines suspect 'not guilty' | Philippines suspect 'not guilty' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The main suspect in the mass killing of 57 people in the southern Philippines, Andal Ampatuan Junior, has pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of murder. | The main suspect in the mass killing of 57 people in the southern Philippines, Andal Ampatuan Junior, has pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of murder. |
| Mr Ampatuan is part of a politically influential clan which has close ties to President Gloria Arroyo. | Mr Ampatuan is part of a politically influential clan which has close ties to President Gloria Arroyo. |
| He denies multiple charges of murder over November's attack, in which members of a rival political family and journalists travelling with them died. | He denies multiple charges of murder over November's attack, in which members of a rival political family and journalists travelling with them died. |
| They were on their way to register a rival candidacy for local elections. | They were on their way to register a rival candidacy for local elections. |
| Mr Ampatuan is initially charged with 41 counts of murder. His father and several other clan members have been charged with rebellion. | Mr Ampatuan is initially charged with 41 counts of murder. His father and several other clan members have been charged with rebellion. |
| 'Test for judiciary' | 'Test for judiciary' |
| Mr Ampatuan was guarded by more than 30 heavily armed police as he attended court in the capital, Manila, on Tuesday. | Mr Ampatuan was guarded by more than 30 heavily armed police as he attended court in the capital, Manila, on Tuesday. |
| At an earlier, preliminary trial hearing, he was jostled, harangued and hit by an angry crowd of journalists, upset by the large number of colleagues, thought to be at least 30, whose lives were lost in the mass killing. | At an earlier, preliminary trial hearing, he was jostled, harangued and hit by an angry crowd of journalists, upset by the large number of colleagues, thought to be at least 30, whose lives were lost in the mass killing. |
| The judge adjourned the trial until next week to allow for a dozen witnesses to be called to support a bail application. | |
| Analysts have warned that the trial poses a serious test for the country's judiciary; wealthy and well-connected figures have managed to buy their way out of jail in the past. | Analysts have warned that the trial poses a serious test for the country's judiciary; wealthy and well-connected figures have managed to buy their way out of jail in the past. |
| The Brussels-based International Crisis Group said last month that Mrs Arroyo was partly to blame for the massacre because she had allowed a "local despot to indulge his greed and ambition". | The Brussels-based International Crisis Group said last month that Mrs Arroyo was partly to blame for the massacre because she had allowed a "local despot to indulge his greed and ambition". |
| Mrs Arroyo imposed martial law for a period following the massacre and vowed to bring the killers to justice. | Mrs Arroyo imposed martial law for a period following the massacre and vowed to bring the killers to justice. |