Six dead, 40 wounded in Philippines bomb attacks

MANILA (AFP) — At least six people have been killed and more than 40 others wounded by twin bomb blasts in
the southern Philippines, in what officials described as coordinated attacks by Al Qaeda-linked militants.
The first bomb exploded in a commercial area on Jolo island, killing six people and wounding around 30 others,
police said. It was followed around two hours later by a blast next to a parked military patrol jeep in Iligan city.
The second blast wounded at least 10 people, including three soldiers, the military said.
Jolo is a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels and local anti-terror task force chief Major General Juancho
Sabban was quick to point the finger at the militant group.
"This is a signature bomb attack of the Abu Sayyaf," Sabban said, speaking on local radio. He said that the bomb
was hidden beneath the saddle of a motorcycle that was parked outside a downtown hardware store.
The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for a string of bombings and kidnappings, most recently of three Red Cross
workers on the island in January. They are still holding one of them, an Italian, hostage.
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gvtQMYnDogUDygwZ_-0C8ctR-5Tg