960403

Four hurt

in blast

ZAMBOANGA,(Philippines): Four persons, including a policeman, were injured in an explosion on Wednesday outside a cinema in Zamboanga city in the southern Philippines, witnesses said.

The policeman was carrying a box he had retrieved from the cinema when the box exploded, witnesses said.

The explosion was the sixth in the past month in a public place in this predominantly Christian city.

Police suspected Muslim extremists were behind the previous explosions but some Manila newspapers have said right-wing groups opposed to peace talks between the government and mainstream Muslim rebels fighting for autonomy might be involved.

Besides the policeman, three women passers-by were also injured in Wednesday's blast.-Reuter