Manila bomb is blamed on rebels

Manila - A bomb ripped through the Philippines' largest shopping mall yesterday, leaving at least one dead and 12 injured as …

Manila - A bomb ripped through the Philippines' largest shopping mall yesterday, leaving at least one dead and 12 injured as the government warned the population to brace for attacks linked to a Muslim separatist rebellion.

The Defence Secretary, Mr Orlando Mercado, said the attack on the SM Megamall and an earlier blast at the Glorietta mall in the Makati financial district last Wednesday were the "consequence of military action" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf, which is holding 21 mostly foreign hostages.