6 dead in Philippine election day violence

6 Six people were killed during a series of national elections held in the Philippines today, authorities said.

3 people were shot dead and 10 others wounded when police clashed with supporters of a mayoral candidate in the southern province of Zamboanga Sibugay before dawn, local military spokesman Captain Arnold Gasalatan said.

The cause of the conflict was unclear but the police were ordered back to their stations, he said, adding the military had secured the area pending an investigation.

In the strife-torn southern province of Maguindanao, 2 men were killed as the armed followers of 2 rival politicians engaged in a gunbattle today, said military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Burgos.

One of the dead was identified as a member of an armed group, he added