Troops foil bombing outside base

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Philippine military said on Friday it disarmed a powerful bomb planted at a karaoke house outside a military base in the southern province of Sulu where troops are battling Abu Sayyaf rebels.

Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the improvised explosive was discovered by civilians in the village of Busbus in Jolo town, just 50 meters from the headquarters of the 2nd Marine Brigade.