Bomb blast wounds 7-year-old, 3 others (12:38 p.m.)
ZAMBOANGA — A crude bomb exploded prematurely in the southern Philippines, wounding a 7-year-old girl, another passer-by and two suspected Muslim rebels who allegedly carried the device, officials said Friday.
The suspects were on a motorcycle when the bomb, made from a 81 mm mortar shell, accidentally went off late Thursday in front of a restaurant in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao province - scene of sporadic clashes between army troops and rebels, the military said.
The 7-year-old girl and a woman were wounded by shrapnel and taken to a hospital, said military spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang. The two would-be bombers also were hurt and placed in police custody while an investigation continued, he said.
The province is a stronghold of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, who have been fighting for self-rule in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation’s south for decades.
Fresh violence erupted two months ago when the Supreme Court blocked the signing of a proposed accord on an expanded Muslim autonomous region, prompting three rebel commanders to go on a deadly rampage in several predominantly Christian communities. (AP)
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