'At least 12 killed in Philippines blast'

At least 12 people were killed and another 20 wounded when a bomb exploded during a town festival today in the southern Philippines.

North Cotabato provincial Police Chief Federico Dulay said the bomb, believed to be made from an 88mm mortar shell, went off at about 8pm local time (1pm Irish time) in front of the town hall of Makilala town in the southern part of the province.