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Soldiers storm Philippine massacre suspects' compound: army
Shariff Aguak, Philippines (AFP) Dec 4, 2009 Philippine troops stormed the homes on Friday of the powerful clan suspected of involvement in an election-linked massacre that left 57 people dead, a military spokesman said. "We're looking for weapons," regional military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Ponce said over GMA television here as soldiers backed by armoured troop carriers entered the sprawling compound of the Ampatuan clan. There were no reports of the army or the Ampatuans firing guns as the soldiers raided the compound in Shariff Aguak, the capital of Maguindanao province. The soldiers were armed with assault rifles and wearing body armour, while at least two armoured troop carriers were involved, according to a photographer on the scene. Asked if the weapons they were looking for could have been used in the November 23 massacre, Ponce said: "It's possible. We'll look into that." The clan patriarch's son and namesake, Andal Ampatuan Jnr, was arrested three days after the massacre and has been charged with 25 counts of murder so far. Authorities said he will likely face more charges. Police have also indicted Ampatuan Snr and four other family members for their alleged role in the massacre, and are waiting for the justice department to decide whether to charge them in court. Ampatuan Snr is the governor of Maguindanao and has ruled the province for most of the past decade with the backing of his own private army and the support of President Gloria Arroyo's ruling coalition. However, the coalition expelled Ampatuan Snr and Jnr, as well as another relative who held a senior position on the southern island of Mindanao that encompasses Maguindanao, following the massacre. Police allege Ampatuan Jnr and 100 of his gunmen shot dead the occupants of a convoy that included relatives of his rival for the post of Maguindanao governor in next year's elections, as well as a group of journalists. The rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, said the killings were carried out to stop him from running for office. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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More than half Guantanamo inmates can be transferred: USWashington (AFP) Dec 3, 2009 US authorities are ready to transfer 116 of the 211 detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to other countries, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a Senate hearing on Thursday. Officials were "in the process of identifying detainees that we believe can be transferred to other countries" and "we've identified I think 116 at this point," Gates said. He did not specify how ... read more |
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