Lethal bomb blast hits Philippines

The wounded were rushed to hospital in Cotabato City

A bomb blast at a basketball game in the southern Philippines has killed at least 14 people and injured 40.

The bomb exploded inside a crowded gym in the town of Parang on Mindanao island, which has been troubled by a decades-old Muslim rebellion.

Police said it may have been an attempt to assassinate the Christian town mayor, Vivencio Bataga.

Mr Bataga - who was injured in the blast - survived at least three attempts on his life last year.

'Political attack'

The home-made bomb - which was hidden on a motorcycle left outside the gymnasium - went off at about 1600 (0800 GMT).

Mr Bataga had just finished delivering a speech when the bomb went off, a local radio station reported.

Regional police chief Isnadji Bantala said he had ordered all officers in the town to "secure the area and pursue the suspects.

"This is something political," he added. "Bataga survived similar attacks in the past."

He added the mayor was "fine" despite being injured.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Mindanao is the homeland of the Muslim minority in the mainly Christian Philippines.

There are some armed Muslims fighting for independence, whom the government does not regard as terrorists, and there are some armed Muslims whom it does regard as terrorists.

The BBC's John McLean in the capital Manila says there are also communist guerrillas regarded as terrorists by the United States, Canada and the European Union but not, apparently, by the Philippines.