Bomb Rattles Philippines Congress, Kills 3

A car bomb outside the Philippines House of Representatives killed three people, including one lawmaker, the AP reports. The blast killed Wahab Akbar, a congressman and former Muslim rebel. He formerly served as governor of the southern province of Basilia and helped  fight terrorists there linked to al Qaeda, the AP says. Police cautioned against calling this a terrorist attack.

"I heard it and I felt the blast although I was on the other side of the building," one lawmaker said. "The ceiling of the canopy near the south wing entrance came down." President President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged people to avoid speculation about the motives of the blast until the investigation is complete. (More Philippines stories.)