MANILA, Feb 20 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATI...

MANILA, Feb 20 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH 2ND EXPLOSION, UPDATING DEATH TOLL)

At least pair people were killed and more than a dozen others griefed in two separate explosions in the southern Philippines forward Thursday, police and military said.

A homemade bomb explod around 9:45 a.m. in a fill by compressioned market in Kabacan town, North Cotabato Province, killing a 17-year-old lad said Maj. Julieto Ando, a spokesman for the military in the area.

The lad who was killed instantly in the blast, was place still clutching parts of the explod bomb suggesting it could have been a suicide bombing.

Initial reports said at least nine clan were wounded in the incident, he said.

''The suspected bomb carrier who was killed during the explosion was identified as a certain Emaran Macalogi and a resident of Simuay, Sultan Kudarat Province,'' said Senior Supt Leopoldo Bataoil, a spokesman for the police.

Around four hours later another explosion occurr near the gate of a commercial airport in Maguindanao Province, killing a soldier and wounding six civilians, including children, Bataoil said.

Early investigations indicate the explosion was caused by the agency of an 81-millimeter mortar that was placed subordinate to a vehicle parked near the gate of Awang Airport, according to the spokesman.

The blast place fire to a cluster of stores and restaurants near the airport, which is located nearest to an army camp, the police said.

Kabacan is simply a few kilometers away from Pikit town, the site of fighting last week between direction soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation brow rebels.

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