Mayor assassinated in northern Philippines

Armed men have assassinated a town mayor in the northern Philippines, just minutes after he had led flag-raising ceremonies at the municipal hall.

Four unidentified attackers shot dead Jesus Sebastian, the mayor of Jones town in Isabela province 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of the capital Manila.

A faction of the Communist New People's Army is reported to have sent a statement to a radio station, taking responsibility for the attack.

The rebels reportedly said they had taken the action in response to military operations against the Communist rebels, and because farmers had been displaced from their homes by the development of projects to produce coffee and cement.

The New People's Army has threatened to attack American troops participating in training exercises aimed at helping local soldiers wipe out the Muslim Abu Sayyaf group.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service