The trial of the suspects in the gruesome murder of 57 people in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines began today, reports China's Xinhua news agency.

After being postponed several times, the lower court set to hear the case has formally opened the trial this morning and called on the plaintiff's first witness Lakmudin Suliya.

The trial was supposed to start last Wednesday but the lower court judge granted the motion to postpone the hearing to give time for one of the defence lawyers to file his comment.

It involved a powerful political clan from Maguindanao.

Former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr and his sons former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr and Zaldy Ampatuan, the former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, are among those charged with multiple murder.

A total of 197 people were implicated for the massacre of at least 30 journalists, and the wife, sisters and supporters of Maguindanao governor Ismael Mangudadatu, the rival political clan of the Ampatuans.

On Nov 23 last year, the group was on their way to the local Commission on Election office to file Mangudadatu's certificate of candidacy for governor when they were ambushed by the suspects.

- Bernama