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| Army on alert in Philippines poll | Army on alert in Philippines poll |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Security forces in the Philippines are on alert ahead of parliamentary, provincial and local elections. | Security forces in the Philippines are on alert ahead of parliamentary, provincial and local elections. |
| Security officials have said communist rebels are planning to disrupt the vote and thousands of soldiers have joined police guarding polling centres. | Security officials have said communist rebels are planning to disrupt the vote and thousands of soldiers have joined police guarding polling centres. |
| More than 110 people have been killed in a violent election campaign period. | More than 110 people have been killed in a violent election campaign period. |
| Correspondents say the opposition is unlikely to gain enough parliamentary seats to restart a bid to impeach President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. | Correspondents say the opposition is unlikely to gain enough parliamentary seats to restart a bid to impeach President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. |
| Critics of Mrs Arroyo charge that she cheated to win the presidency in May 2004. | Critics of Mrs Arroyo charge that she cheated to win the presidency in May 2004. |
| She has already withstood one attempt to impeach her and several coup attempts. | She has already withstood one attempt to impeach her and several coup attempts. |
| Political feuds | Political feuds |
| About 87,000 candidates are contesting nearly 18,000 positions. | About 87,000 candidates are contesting nearly 18,000 positions. |
| Dynasties dominate poll As well as elections for the 275-seat parliament, about 45 million voters will choose governors, provincial and municipal assemblies, local mayors and half of the senate's 24 seats. | Dynasties dominate poll As well as elections for the 275-seat parliament, about 45 million voters will choose governors, provincial and municipal assemblies, local mayors and half of the senate's 24 seats. |
| The coalition supporting President Arroyo is likely to retain control of the parliament, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in the Philippines, but the latest opinion polls indicate the opposition may gain ground in the senate. | The coalition supporting President Arroyo is likely to retain control of the parliament, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in the Philippines, but the latest opinion polls indicate the opposition may gain ground in the senate. |
| The three-month campaign season was marked by violence in which more than 110 people were killed. | The three-month campaign season was marked by violence in which more than 110 people were killed. |
| There is a tradition in some areas of the Philippines of violent feuds between political rivals, says our correspondent. | There is a tradition in some areas of the Philippines of violent feuds between political rivals, says our correspondent. |
| Residents say vote-buying and intimidation are commonplace. | |
| The army has been deployed to help police control the private armies that some candidates hire to intimidate rival candidates and voters, our correspondent adds. | The army has been deployed to help police control the private armies that some candidates hire to intimidate rival candidates and voters, our correspondent adds. |
| Security officials have also warned of plans by the communist New People's Army to disrupt voting by attacking military and civilian targets. | Security officials have also warned of plans by the communist New People's Army to disrupt voting by attacking military and civilian targets. |
| "This planned tactical offensive is the NPA's desperate attempt to undermine our democratic process," said national police's director general, Oscar Calderon. | "This planned tactical offensive is the NPA's desperate attempt to undermine our democratic process," said national police's director general, Oscar Calderon. |
| Two soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in an ambush on a military convoy on Saturday in Mountain Province in Luzon. | Two soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in an ambush on a military convoy on Saturday in Mountain Province in Luzon. |
| A rebel spokesman quoted by Associated Press news agency said the attack was carried out to avenge alleged military killings of left-wing activists. | A rebel spokesman quoted by Associated Press news agency said the attack was carried out to avenge alleged military killings of left-wing activists. |
| Late on Sunday, two policemen were killed by gunmen as they helped election officials carry ballot boxes in Abra Province. | Late on Sunday, two policemen were killed by gunmen as they helped election officials carry ballot boxes in Abra Province. |