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19 dead in Philippines explosion

Officials in the Philippines say at least 19 people have been killed and more than 144 others injured in an explosion at Davao airport in the south of the country.

Many of the victims, who included children, were rushed to the Davao City Medical Centre.

The bomb has destroyed a waiting shed outside the airport's passenger terminal. Dozens of people were queuing there in order to enter the terminal and board two Manila-bound flights.

Minutes later, another bomb exploded at a bus terminal in Davao but no one was injured. Three people were injured in another blast at a health office in the nearby city of Taguma shortly after the airport attack.

Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines has suspended flights to Davao until further notice. The last of three PAL flights to Davao for the day was recalled back to Manila about 35 minutes before touchdown, an airline statement said.

President Gloria Arroyo has condemned the bombing at the airport and convened an emergency cabinet meeting.

The bombing is the second at an airport on the island of Mindanao in less than two weeks.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, blamed for the car bombing at Cotabato airport on 20 February that killed one person, condemned the Davao bombing and denied responsibility.

The Reuters news agency reports that US special forces are now on Mindanao, training Philippine units in counter-terrorism tactics in and around the city of Zamboanga, which lies 350 km (220 miles) west of Davao.