Two killed, more than 40 injured in Philippines twin blasts

Manila: Two people were killed and more than 40 injured as two blasts rocked two shopping malls in a southern Philippine city on Thursday afternoon, officials said.

The fist blast occurred at a popular mall in Iligan city of Lanao del Norte province at around 1:40 pm and the second bomb blew up in another shoping centre shortly after, killing two and injuring more than 40 people, said army commander Colonel Nicanor Dolojan. Both blasts were carried out by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), he added.

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"The Red Cross is sending blood and other rescue necessities to the four hospitals where patients are being treated," said Gwendolyn T. Pang, Assistant Secretary of the Philippine National Red Cross.

Two people were caught on close circuit TV cameras of a shopping mall while keeping the explosives near the mall's baggage counter.

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Though no group has claimed responsibility, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is suspected to be behind the blasts.

The Muslim rebels have been fighting government troops for four decades in order to establish a separate state in resources-rich and Muslim-dominating Mindanao. Peace talks between the two sides have been halted amid lack of trust and escalation of clashes in August this year.

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