MANILA, Philippines – A senior Cabinet official says President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has approved the lifting of martial law in a southern province where 57 people were massacred last month in the country's worst political violence.
- Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told a news conference that the martial law edict will be lifted at 9 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Saturday.
- He said the Cabinet's security group made the recommendation during a meeting of the National Security Council.
- The weeklong martial law in Maguindanao province led to a massive military and police operation against the ruling Ampatuan clan blamed for the mass killings of members of a rival family and 30 journalists.
- Large amounts of weapons were seized, and at least 24 people charged with rebellion.
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