Fresh blast as Philippines blames rebels for bombs

MANILA, Oct 11 (Reuters) Philippine officials blamed a group of Muslim rebels for two explosions that killed six people on the southern island of Mindanao yesterday, as another bomb went off today without causing any casualties.

A military spokesman said two army commandos were killed and nine wounded in new clashes on the remote southwestern island of Jolo today, as troops stepped up an offensive against a violent group of militants.

Late yesterday, six people were killed and about 30 wounded in Makilala town, with four wounded earlier in the day by an explosion at a public market in Tacurong city.

Police said a bomb went off today around midday near a bank and a shopping mall in central Cotabato city, while the army found a second device in Makilala that failed to explode.

Emmanuel Pinol, governor of North Cotabato province, put the blame on members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the mainly Roman Catholic country that is in protracted peace talks with the government.

He said the bomb used in Makilala ''had all the signatures of the MILF'', citing similarities to past attacks in the south.

''I'm deeply disappointed because we are talking, we have been communicating and they promised not to use violence in pursuit of their cause,'' Pinol told reporters.

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