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Philippines declares emergency after 46 killed
The Philippine president placed two southern provinces under emergency rule Tuesday as security forces unearthed more bodies, pushing the death toll to 46 in some of the deadliest election violence in the nation's history.Dozens of gunmen abducted the group of journalists, supporters and relatives of a gubernatorial candidate as they traveled through Amputuan township Monday to file candidacy documents in the provincial capital for May 2010 elections. The gubernatorial candidate, Ismael Mangudadatu, who was not a part of the convoy, accused a powerful political rival from the Amputuan clan of being behind the slayings. There is a longstanding bitterness between the two families. Mangudadatu's wife, Genalyn, and his two sisters, were among the dead. Mangudadatu said Tuesday that four witnesses had told him the convoy was stopped by gunmen loyal to Andal Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor belonging to a powerful clan and his family's fierce political rival. Best I can figure this is muslim on muslim clan warfare in the best tradition of Mo. Both families being politically powerful (Governor) and fighting over the bejeweled turban. Posted by: ed 2009-11-24 |
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