Philippine army says 21 people taken hostage in south found dead

Manila: The Philippine army says it has found 21 bodies in the country's south after gunmen kidnapped a group of politicians and supporters traveling to file nominations for next year's elections.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Romen Brawner says the victims include 13 women. He said they were found in a remote village in southern Ampatuan township.

The gunmen seized the hostages while they were traveling in three vans.

The identities of the gunmen are not known, but victims' relatives blame political rivals.

Philippine elections are particularly violent in the south because of the presence of armed groups, including Muslim rebels, and political warlords who maintain private armies.