Terrorists Suffers from Premature Detonation

Spoiled Milk. AP

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A homemade bomb hurt a would-be attacker in the Philippines on Thursday while another device was defused at a southern bus terminal in what the military suggested was retaliation from Muslim rebels for a recent government offensive.

The mayor of M'lang town said an explosive device, concealed in a milk carton, went off prematurely at a public market, slightly wounding the man carrying it.

The man was arrested and allegedly admitted to being a member of the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front who wanted to "sow terror," Mayor Lito Pinol said.

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Hours earlier, troops in nearby Kidapawan city in North Cotabato province defused a more powerful bomb made of 4.5 pounds of TNT, a mortar round, nails and a cell phone as a trigger, regional military spokesman Maj. Armand Rico said.

Rico said it could be part of "retaliation efforts" after the rebels withdrew Tuesday from 15 predominantly Christian villages in the province following a three-day military offensive.

But rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu denied the accusation.