An emergency has been declared in the Philippines in the aftermath of a savage political massacre that left at least 46 people dead.

Police on Mindanao island have been pulling bullet-riddled bodies from shallow graves, blaming the murders on a local political chief.

Philippine authorities have said a group of people, driving in convoy, were abducted by gunmen linked to Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, the head of a Muslim clan.

The abducted group were relatives and associates of Esmael Mangudadatu, the head of a rival Muslim clan in Maguindanao

A large group of journalists was also travelling with the Mangudadatu group when it was fired upon.

The group had been travelling to an electoral registration where Mangudadatu's wife was going to register her husband to run for governor against Ampatuan's son in next year's national polls.

She was among those killed.

President Gloria Arroyo has declared a state of emergency for the area that will allow curfews and road checkpoints to be imposed.

24 bodies were recovered on Tuesday, on top of 22 that had been found on Monday.