11 Injured in 2 Blasts in Southern Philippines

Two powerful explosions believed to be from home-made bombs ripped through a motel and a cock-fighting arena in the southern Philippines on Sunday, wounding 11 people, police said.

The first explosion at noon tore through the ground floor of the two-story Red Palm inn in Zamboanga, a port city in the troubled southern island of Mindanao, where Islamist militants operate.

"It was a huge explosion. Six of my friends were injured and taken away for medical help after a wall fell on them after the explosion," said hotel guest and witness Roland Teofilo, who escaped unharmed.

"I believe the blast happened below our room."

Police suspect the explosion was caused by a bomb, said local commander Superintendent Arthur Larudis, but no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

As bomb experts sifted through the hotel's damaged ground floor, Larudis said another explosion hit an arena that hosted cock fights nearby.

Police initially reported two people were injured in that blast, but city emergency workers later said five people were hurt.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said the attacks happened as the majority Catholic residents of Zamboanga prepared to host a week-long festival honoring the city's patron saint.

"These are very unfortunate incidents. These are despicable and condemnable acts," Lobregat said.

He said he had ordered the city's police and military contingent to beef up security at all major installations after the bombing, which he said could be meant to sabotage the festival.