Philippines massacre witness killed

A key witness and alleged participant in the Philippines' worst political killing has been shot dead, according to a prosecutor. The witness was supposed to give evidence in the trial of members of the clan accused of ordering the massacre last November of supporters of a political rival and journalists before elections in Maguindanao province. Suwaib Upham, the purported witness, claimed he had taken part in the killing of 57 people when their convoy was ambushed as they travelled to register the candidate's intention to stand in the polls. "I think we lost a very very important witness, if not in fact the most important witness, however, his coming out in the open did inspire other witnesses to come out," Harry Roque, the prosecutor, told Al Jazeera on Thursday.