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Passenger decapitated by Philippines explosion

01/09/2008

At least four people have been killed after a bus terminal was hit by an explosion in the Philippines.

According to army officials the "crude bomb" was so powerful one of the passengers was decapitated when trying to board the bus.

A statement from the provincial disaster coordinating council in Digos, which is on restive Mindanao island, said: "Four people were killed and 19 others were being treated at the hospital."

Authorities in the Philippines have been clashing with Islamic militants the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the past month.

But today's explosion is not thought to be part of the deadly wave of attacks, which have killed 100 fighters and 40 civilians and soldiers.

Officials have indicated that the bus terminal explosion may be the work of a notorious extortion gang.