ZAMBOANGA CITY, 16 September 2007 — A bomb exploded yesterday in the southern Philippines barely two days after Australia warned its citizens of a possible terrorist attacks in the troubled region, police said.

Police said one person was wounded in the blast in Cotabato City. The bomb, planted under a Coca-Cola delivery truck parked in downtown Cotabato, exploded at around 12.30 p.m., said police desk officer Jose Dimaano.

“One person, Omar Salik, was injured in the blast. He was just passing near the truck when the bomb exploded,” he told Arab News.

The police officer said the explosive was placed at the truck’s water container probably mistaken as gasoline tank by the bomber. “We are just lucky that it was the water container and not the petrol tank where the bomb was planted or else the blast and shrapnel and broken bottles could hurt or even kill more people,” he said.

Police forces in Cotabato City have doubled security.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Australian government warned Thursday that terrorists may strike on civilian targets and power installations in Mindanao island.

Australia warned its citizens not to travel to Mindanao because of credible threats of terrorism. It said terrorists may also strike in the Philippine capital.

“We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive credible reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners,” it said on a travel warning posted on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Security forces remain in heightened alert because of the political situation and insurgency problems in the Philippines.

Grenade Explosion

In Malapatan town in Sarangani province,1,065 kilometers south of Manila, two boys were killed hen a rifle-grenade they were playing with exploded.

Police report said.

The victims — aged two and 11 — found the live rifle-grenade in a farm lot near their house..

Investigators said the two boys were playing the grenade when it hit a hard object and exploded.

Guns and ammunition are ubiquitous in the strife-torn southern Philippines which is wracked by Muslim and communist insurgencies.