10 killed as bombs rock Philippines

Ten people were killed in three Valentine's Day blasts in the Philippines.

More than 100 were injured in the blasts that occurred within an hour and rocked Manila's Makati business district and two urban centres in the southern Philippines yesterday.

Six people were killed in Makati, three in a shopping mall in the southern city of General Santos in Mindanao and another person in Davao, also in Mindanao.

Manila Police Chief Avelino Razon said a blast from an improvised explosive device ripped through a bus travelling in Makati City around 7.40pm (3.40 pm Dubai time). The blast also damaged two other buses.

In General Santos City, three people died while 36 were injured after an explosive device exploded in front of the Gaisano Mall at 6.40pm.

"The mall's security guard was inspecting a motorcycle taxi when the explosion occurred," Major General Raul Relano, commander of the Army 6th Infantry Division based on Southern Mindanao island, said.

One fatality was found near the shopping mall and investigators said it was most likely the motorcycle owner. The other victim died while being treated at a local hospital.

Ten others were wounded in the blast, Relano said.

In Davao City, some 200 kilometres from the site of the first explosion, one person died after a blast near a bus terminal.

Abu Solaiman, who claims to be a spokesman of the Southern Philippines-based extremist group Abu Sayyaf, claimed responsibility for the three explosions.

In a radio interview aired over station dzBB, Solaiman said the explosions in Makati City, Davao and General Santos City were their "Valentine's gift" to President Gloria. Solaiman said the bombings were in retribution for attacks carried out on Filipino Muslims.

Solaiman had claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past against civilians including the explosion aboard a passenger ferry south of Manila in February last year that killed dozens of people.

The bombings came as fighting between government forces and Moro rebels loyal to detained separatist leader Nur Misuari raged in Sulu, in the south of the country.

The week-long fighting has claimed the lives of 26 soldiers and more than 50 rebels. In addition, more than 50 others have been wounded in the skirmishes.

The rash of bombing were also reminiscent of the December 30, 2000 blasts that damaged the Light Railway Transit (LRT) station in downtown Manila.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in an urgent radio address, condemned the bombings.

"These attacks against innocent civilians are unwarranted. These should be condemned by every civilised individual," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said checkpoints have been set up across the country.

"Security will be tightened in all areas of convergence such as airports and bus terminals," he said.