A Norwegian man freed by militants after a year of jungle captivity in the southern Philippines has described the ordeal as "devastating".

A trio of bombs jolted the Philippines today, killing at least three people and injuring at least 16 others.

Hundreds of followers of a jailed former Muslim rebel leader battled government troops for a second day today on the Philippines’ southern Jolo island, in clashes that have killed 14 soldiers and wounded 16 others.