COTABATO CITY ? The Moro Islamic Liberation Front branded as ?absurd? claims by the prime suspect in the massacre in Maguindanao province that the Muslim rebel group was behind the killings.

"This is absurd, even a small kid would not believe it," said MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar.

He was reacting to Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.'s allegation that MILF commander Ameril Ombra Kato was behind the deaths of at least 57 people last November 23.

Ampatuan surrendered to authorities on Thursday and was charged with multiple murder.

Buluan mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, political rival of the Ampatuans and whose wife, two sisters, and two, lawyers, among others, were killed, dismissed Ampatuan's claim, saying witnesses had pointed to the local official as the mastermind.