GENEVA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.N. human rights experts in Geneva on Wednesday called for wide-ranging reform in the Philippines in the wake of the November election massacre.

    Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extra judicial executions, and Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, said in a statement, "the premeditated killing of political opponents, combined with a massive assault on the media, must be tackled at various levels that go well beyond standard murder investigations."

    The U.N. experts said the Philippines government should ensure the investigation was comprehensive and independent, and followed by effective prosecutions.

    The government should do its utmost to eliminate elite, family-dominated manipulation of the political process, said the experts.

    "This will require a thorough-going investigation of the broader context to be undertaken by a credible and independent body, appointed with full legal powers to carry out an effective inquiry and make recommendations," Alston and La Rue said.

    The experts said the government should acknowledge the likelihood of violence in the upcoming elections in May and identify measures to prevent further killings.

    They also said the challenge now was to protect the media in particular and freedom of expression in general.

    On November 23, 57 people, including some 30 journalists, were massacred on their way to file candidacy papers for Esmael Mangudadatu in a governor's race in Maguindanao province.

    On Tuesday, a mayor in Maguindanao province, Andal Ampatuan Jr., was charged with 25 counts of murder.