Massacre Suspects In
Philippine Face Charges
Twenty-four
people in the Philippines have been charged with rebellion over
a massacre that left 57 people dead on the island of Mindanao
last month.
Those charged include several figures from the powerful local
Ampatuan clan.
It comes after martial law was declared on Saturday in
Maguindanao province, where the killings took place.
Two weeks ago, a member of the Ampatuan clan, Andal Ampatuan Jr,
surrendered to the authorities and was charged with multiple
counts of murder.
His father, Andal Ampatuan Sr - who was detained at the weekend
- was among those charged on Wednesday. The patriarch is a close
ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Prosecutors say that after the killings, those charged directed
each other to rise publicly and take arms against the Republic
of the Philippines.
The Ampatuans are reportedly accused of forming a private army
to resist government troops in the Maguindanao provincial
prosecutor's charge sheet.
Members of a rival clan and 30 journalists were among those
killed in the 23 November massacre.
The victims were part of a group on their way to file the
candidacy of one of their leaders for elections in 2010.
BBC/Oluwaseun/Yinka
