MANILA - A FORMER close ally of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and 196 other people were on Tuesday charged with murder over an election-linked massacre, a prosecutor said.

Andal Ampatuan Sr, the head of a Muslim clan and the former governor of Maguindanao province where the slaughter of 57 people occurred last year, was among those charged with murder, according to papers filed in a Manila court.

In total, 197 people were charged, including men alleged to have been the gunmen who abducted and shot the victims. Those charged on Tuesday were in addition to Ampatuan Sr's son and namesake, who is already standing trial for murder after being accused of orchestrating the killings.

Prosecutors alleged in Ampatuan Jr's trial that he and about 100 of his gunmen abducted and killed the victims to stop a rival, Mr Esmael Mangudadatu, from running against him for the post of Maguindanao governor in May elections.

Mr Mangudadatu's wife and pregnant sister, as well as at least 30 journalists travelling with them, were among the 57 killed. Mr Mangudadatu had sent his relatives to an election office to register his candidacy.

Ampatuan Sr had been the governor of Maguindanao for most of the past decade, and was a close ally of Mrs Arroyo. Ampatuan Sr and Jr had been members of Mrs Arroyo's ruling coalition until being expelled over the massacre. -- AFP