Schoolchildren among 75 held hostage in Philippines

Pupils and teachers are among 75 people being held hostage in a southern Philippine village today.

Officials say 19 gunmen entered the isolated hamlet of San Martin in Agusan del Sur province today, just a day after authorities chased them away from a nearby village.

It is thought the gunmen are using the hostages as human shields in efforts to escape.

Last month, 57 people in an election convoy were massacred in southern Maguindanao province, which has been placed under martial law.