The Philippines stripped a rebellious Muslim governor of his powers today as fighting ground to a halt on a remote southern island where his troops had staged a bloody uprising.
President Ms Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, now visiting the United States, placed former rebel chief Mr Nur Misuari under "preventive suspension".
This means he could not exercise his powers as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), presidential spokesman Mr Rigoberto Tiglao said.
"There are many reports that he ordered his group to attack. But we must give him due process. He has yet to talk," Mr Tiglao said. "In the meantime . . . he'll be placed on preventive suspension".
At least 62 people - 51 rebel gunmen, four soldiers and seven civilians - were killed yesterday when hundreds of Mr Misuari's followers attacked military and police camps on Jolo, 960 km (600 miles) south of Manila, the military said.
Officials said the attacks were apparently intended to prevent the holding of regional elections in the four provinces comprising the ARMM area on November 26th and to embarrass Ms Arroyo during her US visit.
She is to meet President Bush in Washington later today and is expected to ask for more military equipment to fight Islamic separatism in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic country.
No fresh fighting was reported around the island of Jolo, however. "It's been contained," armed forces spokesman Brig-Gen Edilberto Adan said in a radio interview. "Misuari's renegade forces seem to have stopped their offensive".