Police shoot dead Philippine massacre suspect

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP) - Philippine police have shot dead a suspect in the 2009 killings of 57 people, the country's worst political massacre, a senior officer said on Saturday.

Maguid Amil resisted arrest after being approached by policemen in the strife-torn southern province of Maguindanao on Friday, hurling a grenade and firing a pistol at them, Senior Superintendent Melencio Mina said.

The grenade did not explode but officers fired back, killing Amil, he added.

Elsewhere in Maguindanao on Friday, another suspect, Nasser Guia, was arrested by police acting on a tip-off, Mr Mina said.