There were 43 election-related incidents since September 29, when police went on alert for the polls, police said.

Twenty people have also been wounded, while one person was said to have been abducted by a rival political group.

More than 300 civilians have also been arrested for violating a gun ban ahead of elections, in which 50 million people are registered to vote.

Radio reports said there was widespread vote buying in polling precincts in provinces near Manila, while rival politicians were intimidating voters in violation of laws forbidding them to be near polling sites.

Manila police chief Geary Barias said his office was monitoring 21 "hot spots" in the city, where 5,000 policemen were deployed to curb the violence.

In the financial district of Makati city, supporters of rival candidates were involved in a brawl after both sides accused each other of cheating, radio reports said.

Elections in the Philippines, one of Asia's most vibrant democracies, are often marred by revenge killings and attacks among candidates and their supporters.

AFP

Güncelleme Tarihi: 29 Ekim 2007, 15:54