Philippines says seizes bomb material in south

Manila, Oct 17: Philippine security forces seized about 200 kg of a chemical material commonly used in bombs as the police raised their alert level in the capital due to threats of Muslim militant attacks, officials said today.

Colonel Antonio Supnet, army commander in the southern port city of Zamboanga, said at least eight sacks of ammonium nitrate were found hidden under a shipment of fresh fish aboard a ferry that arrived yesterday night from the southwestern island of Jolo.

''We were warned about the dangerous cargo,'' Supnet said, adding it was the second time a shipment of ammonium nitrate was smuggled into Zamboanga, a business hub in the south, where Muslim rebels are fighting troops of the mainly Catholic country.

Last September 18, about half a tonne of ammonium nitrate was seized from a ferry from Jolo, the base of Abu Sayyaf, the Philippines' smallest and most violent Muslim rebel group, which has been hosting militants from Indonesia.

Like the first shipment, the explosive material was similarly hidden under a shipment of fresh fish placed in eight large ice boxes, Supnet added.

Security officials said Muslim militant groups could stage attacks in Manila and elsewhere after last week's bombs in three urban centres on the southern island of Mindanao killed seven people and wounded 30.

Over the next two weeks, nearly 6,000 U.S. troops are also due to take part in war games with Philippine soldiers but they are not expected to be targeted because they will be staying in fortified camps in the north of the country.

Muslim militants are based in the south of the archipelago and tend to attack public targets in southern cities and Manila.

Today, the police placed units on full alert status in the capital due to the threat of Muslim rebel attacks and rising political tension due to the suspension of a popular local mayor and other officials.

''We're watching out against all groups that may take advantage of the situation,'' said Samuel Pagdilao, the national police spokesman.

The Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for the worst militant attack in the Philippines, the 2004 bombing of a ferry near Manila that killed more than 100 people.

REUTERS