Ex-mayor shot in Philippine court

A gunman has shot dead a former mayor at a hearing in a courtroom in the Philippine capital, Manila.

The assailant shot Reynaldo Yap, a former town mayor from the southern island of Mindanao, who was serving a life sentence for murder.

At least two other people were wounded in the attack and hundreds of people were evacuated from City Hall, which houses the courtroom.

Local reports said that the gunman, who was wearing a police uniform, escaped.

Mr Yap, jailed for life for the 1992 killing of a political rival, was dead on arrival at hospital, reports said.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has ordered an investigation into security at City Hall, local reports said.