Philippines police have arrested more than 60 people and found a major arms and ammunition¹ cache, in raids after a poll-related massacre² in the south.

菲律宾警方在南部政治大屠杀之后进行突击搜捕，逮捕60多人、发现了一个大型武器弹药隐藏处。

Troops have found several weapons caches in the Shariff Aguak area

The crackdown压迫，镇压, on a clan³宗族，党派 linked to the massacre大屠杀, came after President Gloria Arroyo⁴ declared martial⁵ law戒严 in Maguindanao province.

It is the first time martial law has been used in the country since the fall of autocrat⁶独裁者 Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Fifty-seven people including 30 journalists died in the massacre.

Officials said they acted after receiving reports that armed groups loyal to the Ampatuan clan were planning an insurrection叛乱，暴动.

The clan has long controlled Maguindanao and its members have been loyal supporters of President Arroyo.

Correspondents say businesses were closed and streets empty in the mainly Muslim province, as troops backed by tanks and aircraft took control.

Police arrested 15 people at a ranch牧场 owned by the family, bringing the total number detained to 62.

Former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, and four of his sons, were among suspects held earlier in the week. They deny involvement in the 23 November massacre.

One of the sons, Andal Ampatuan Jr, is suspected of orchestrating参与，指挥 the killings⁸ and has been charged with 25 counts of murder.

The latest of several weapons caches隐藏处 was found on Sunday at a farm thought to be owned by the Ampatuans near the provincial⁹ capital Shariff Aguak, military officials said.

About 40 firearms and hundreds of crates¹⁰板条箱 of ammunition军火，弹药 were discovered.

'Plot' uncovered

The BBC's Rachel Harvey says the declaration of martial law is a politically sensitive move by President Arroyo.

The government said it had intelligence that armed groups were plotting an offensive.

Since the killings, Mr Ampatuan Sr and other members of the family have been expelled开除，排出 from her party.

The government has armed militias民兵组织 in the south to act as an auxiliary¹²附加的，辅助的 force to the army and police battling insurgents起义者，叛乱者 but they often end up as the private armies of local strongmen.

Former Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law nationwide from 1972 until 1981. He stayed in power until 1986.