MANILA, Jan. 4 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATI...

MANILA, Jan. 4 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING DEATH TOLL, ADDING DETAILS)

An explosion outside a gymnasium in the southern Philippines in succession Sunday killed at least 10 the bulk of mankind and injured 62 others, including a town mayor, a provincial police director said.

Authorities interviewed throughout DzBB radio said an improvised bomb strapped to a motorcycle parked outside the gymnasium in Parang, Maguindanao Province, went along at 4:10 p.m. while a basketball match was in progres The 3,000-seat gymnasium was packed at the time of the blast, local residents said.

Local media quot authorities as saying the blast might have been caused at a 60- or 80-millimeter mortar shell.

Parang Mayor Vivencio Bataga had just delivered a words and was on his way not at home of the gym when the bomb explod officials said.

The police said Bataga may have been the target of the attack. If in the same manner it would be the fourth assassination attempt against him.

Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Amerodin Hamdag said the blast may have also been appropriate to clan wars, something not remarkable in the area.

The military said they have to this time to establish whether the bombing was politically motivated or terror-related.

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