More arrests as peace talks about to begin

MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Police in the Philippines have arrested more than 60 people and confiscated hundreds of illegal weapons after the recent election-related massacre left 57 dead.

The arrests came during a police and military sweep through the southern province of Maguindanao on the island of Mindanao during the weekend after President Gloria Arroyo declared a state of emergency and martial law.

Some of those arrested are members of the powerful Ampatuan clan. Andal Ampatuan Jr, mayor of the town Datu Unsay, was arrested last week and is the chief suspect in the massacre, the worst in Philippines history.

Andal was charged with 25 counts of murder in the brutal open-air slaying of the staff, supporters and family members of a rival politician. They were ambushed at a makeshift roadblock while on their way to register their candidate in a forthcoming election.

More than half the 57 victims were journalists accompanying the group, some of whose bullet-riddled and bludgeoned bodies were later found strewn along the verge of the highway. More bodies were exhumed by a backhoe from nearby vacant land.

Andal belongs to a family that has ruled, unopposed, the southern province on Mindanao, the second-largest island in the country and with a restive Muslim majority.

Police said they will continue to pursue alleged gunmen, numbering around 3,000 according to some local media reports, to put an end to the lawlessness that plagues Mindanao.

Media reports also note that the military and police have formally taken over Shariff Aguak, the capital of Maguindanao province. Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales was said to have led government employees in a flag raising and singing of the national anthem.

A government spokesperson said that the Maguindanao massacre will not stand in the way of talks between the federal Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest of several groups fighting for self-rule on Mindanao.

The talks are due to resume this week not in the Philippines but in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, said government Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde, speaking at a news conference in Manila.

The talks stalled last year after fighting flared up in some parts of central Mindanao between government forces and some MILF rebels.

The Philippines delegation will be headed by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael E. Seguis. His MILF counterpart will be Mohagher Iqbal.

The two sides have been moving closer towards a settlement to stop the fighting that that has claimed the lives of more than 120,000 people, mostly civilians, in sporadic clashes since the 1970s. Under Iqbal's instructions, the MILF recently helped attain the release of a kidnapped Irish priest on Mindanao.

At the last meeting the two sides agreed the formation of an International Contact Group that they hope will help pave the way to a settlement by monitoring their talks and other negotiations.

Initial composition of the group includes the United Kingdom, Japan and Turkey. Non-government organizations include The Asian Foundation, the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, the Conciliation Resources and the Muhammadiyah, a non-political social and educational pressure group in Indonesia.

Nonetheless, martial law in Mindanao could be a delicate issue at the talks. Human-rights groups, as well as lawyers for Ampatuan, have said they will fight its imposition and want it removed as soon as possible.

Muslim groups in street marches in Mindanao over the weekend waved placards portraying President Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales wearing mustaches similar to that worn by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.