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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bomb kills three in Philippines | Bomb kills three in Philippines |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Three people have been killed after a bomb exploded at a bus station in the southern Philippines. | Three people have been killed after a bomb exploded at a bus station in the southern Philippines. |
| A young boy was among the dead and at least 15 other people were hurt in the blast, in the city of Cotabato. | A young boy was among the dead and at least 15 other people were hurt in the blast, in the city of Cotabato. |
| Local police told reporters it was unlikely the explosion was related to the country's mid-term elections, held earlier this week. | Local police told reporters it was unlikely the explosion was related to the country's mid-term elections, held earlier this week. |
| Cotabato is on Mindanao island, where Islamic militants have been fighting the largely Catholic government. | Cotabato is on Mindanao island, where Islamic militants have been fighting the largely Catholic government. |
| Police chief Jomar Yap told the Associated Press that an improvised explosive device was left in a cluster of stalls at the station. | Police chief Jomar Yap told the Associated Press that an improvised explosive device was left in a cluster of stalls at the station. |
| "Witnesses heard a loud explosion from one of the stores," he said. | "Witnesses heard a loud explosion from one of the stores," he said. |
| "Troops are now in the area. The entire city was placed on high alert." | "Troops are now in the area. The entire city was placed on high alert." |
| The country's mid-term elections earlier this week were marred by outbreaks of violence. | The country's mid-term elections earlier this week were marred by outbreaks of violence. |
| More than 100 people were killed in the three-month election campaign period, and observers predicted the long vote-count would lead to more violence. | More than 100 people were killed in the three-month election campaign period, and observers predicted the long vote-count would lead to more violence. |
| But police told reporters the explosion was likely to be related to Islamist violence or local extortion, rather than the elections. |