Polls in Philippine south open with blasts, gunfire

Manila, May 26: Three people, including a soldier, were wounded as special balloting opened today in 13 Muslim towns in the southern Philippines amid blasts and gunfire, said a police general.

Joel Goltiao, police chief in the six-province Muslim region southern island of Mindanao, said the soldier was wounded when troops exchanged automatic gunfire with armed men trying to snatch ballot boxes in Pualas town.

''The casting of votes started on time and was going smoothly despite pockets of violence,'' Goltiao said, adding seven blasts were heard before balloting started in Masiu town.

''No one was hurt in these explosions. Some groups might be trying to scare people from casting their ballots.'' Two people were injured when gunmen opened fire at schools in the towns of Pantar and Kapai, Goltiao said as troops were rushed to these areas to prevent further violence.

About 5,000 soldiers and armed police officers were sent to guard special elections in 13 towns in Lanao del Sur after about 100,000 people failed to vote on May 14 when election officials did not show up due to threats and intimidation.

The election watchdog National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) said results from these balloting could help decide the last two slots in the race for 12 seats in the uper house of Congress.

Unofficial counts of NAMFREL and the Commission on Elections showed the opposition is leading the contest with eight slots, followed by two pro-administration candidates and two independents.

Thirty-seven were running for 12 Senate seats.

But four allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were trailing by about 100,000 to 500,000 votes with about 4 million ballots from the south still to be tallyed, giving the pro-administration candidates a chance to make it.

There is no complete national tally yet from local and congressional elections on May 14 but pro-administration parties say they won more than 190 of 220 district seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.

Fifty-five seats were still being contested by 93 party-list groups.

The pro-government side's expected success will insulate Arroyo from a third impeachment motion during the rest of her final term, which runs out in 2010. She has failed to shake allegations she cheated in the 2004 presidential elections.

But a victory by the opposition in the Senate could block Arroyo's key legislative agenda.

Reuters>